Schedule Overview
Saturday Workshops
Sunday Workshops

As part of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific's "meeting-within-the-meeting" of the American Astronomical Society, we are happy to offer a series of hands-on workshops for educators on Saturday and Sunday. The workshops will take place at the Renaissance Grant Hotel, right next to the St. Louis Convention Center from 9 am to 12:30 pm and 1:45 to 5:15 pm each day. The cost of attending these workshops is a very reasonable $25 per day. (You must pay this fee even if you are registered for the main ASP/AAS meeting that starts Sunday evening. The fee goes toward the cost of renting rooms and a-v equipment in the convention center.)

There are two ways to register for the workshops:

1. Paper Method

Download a printable form and fill it in. Then you may fax it to the AAS at 202-234-7850 or mail it to:

Laronda Boyce
212th AAS Meeting
American Astronomical Society
2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20009-1231, USA

2. Electronic Method

Registration for these workshops is through the American Astronomical Society web site:
https://members.aas.org/source/Meetings/cMeetingFunctionDetail.cfm?product_major=SMR_08R

Please note that the AAS requires you to sign in before you can register. In the upper left block of main text, there are links to log in or sign up. If you are not an AAS member, you can create what they call a "non-member" record. (Only those fields marked with a star on the sign up form need to be filled out to create this record, so it's a short process.) Once you are signed in, then the registration pages will take you through the possibilities and allow you to pay with a variety of credit cards.

Not everything is in chronological order among the registration choices, so you may want to scroll down to see all the possibilities. To register for a workshop:

1. Scroll down to the day(s) you want to register: Saturday 5/31 and/or Sunday 6/1.

2. Select the workshop or workshops you want to register for each day by checking the box next to the workshop title. (See the complete list of workshop titles and abstract for Saturday and Sunday below.)

So, for example, if you want to attend the workshop on storytelling as a tool for astronomy education, you would select Saturday (5/31) as the day and then pick IYA 3 as the workshop you are registering for.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SELECT BOTH THE DAY AND THE SPECIFIC WORKSHOP YOU WANT. IF YOU DON'T SELECT A DAY, THEN YOU CAN'T CHECK OUT, BECAUSE THE FEE IS ONLY CHARGED WHEN EITHER SATURDAY OR SUNDAY IS SELECTED. NOTE THAT THE CHOICE OF THE WORKSHOP DAY IS FOUND AFTER THE SPECIFIC WORKSHOP TITLES ON THAT DAY IN THE REGISTRATION CHOICES.

3. Click the "check-out" button.

If you have already registered for the main meeting and want to add one or two days of workshops to your registration record, you must call the AAS Meeting Office and ask them to add workshops. Please call: 202-328-2010 ext. 110 (between 9 am and 5 pm EDT during weekdays) and have your credit card ready.

Schedule Overview

Saturday, May 31, 2008

IYA 1. Discover the Universe with NASA During the International Year of Astronomy: A Workshop for Astronomy Educators [full day]

IYA 2. Amateur Astronomers as Champions of IYA [full day]

IYA 3. Telling Science Like A Story: Storytelling Techniques for IYA Education Programs [full day]

Sunday, June 1, 2008

IYA 4. In the Footsteps of Galileo: A Workshop for Educators [full day]

IYA 5A: Building a Telescope From the Ground Up [half day, morning]

IYA 5B: Dark Skies from the Ground Up: Activities to Raise Awareness During IYA [half day, afternoon]

IYA 6: Afterschool Universe: Beyond the Solar System, Beyond the School Day [full day]

IYA 7A: Effective Strategies for Engaging Latino/Hispanic Audiences in Astronomy during IYA: Examples Using Daytime Astronomy [half day, morning]

IYA 7B: A User's Guide for Plugging into the New Media Community for IYA [half day, afternoon]

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Saturday, May 31, 2008

IYA 1. Discover the Universe with NASA During the International Year of Astronomy:
A Workshop for Astronomy Educators
9 am to 5:15 pm

Presenters:

Mary Dussault, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Denise Smith, Space Telescope Science Institute
Jaclyn Allen, NASA/Johnson Space Flight Center
Dana Backman, SOFIA USRA E/PO, SETI Institute
Lindsay Bartolone, Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
Alan Gould, Lawrence Hall of Science
Bryan Mendez, Space Sciences Lab, UC Berkeley
James Lochner, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Lou Mayo, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Kevin McLin, Sonoma State University
Christine Shupla, Lunar and Plantary Institute
John Stoke, Space Telescope Science Institute
Frank Summers, Space Telescope Science Institute
James Thiemann, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
Kay Tobola, NASA/Johnson Space Flight Center

Join NASA scientists and educators as we explore the question: "How are NASA space-based missions extending Galileo's legacy of discovery?" This full-day workshop will help astronomy educators from middle and high-school classrooms, out-of-school, museum, and planetarium settings gear-up for IYA2009. Participants will actively explore key concepts that students and public audiences need to understand both Galileo's and NASA's investigations of our sun, solar system, and beyond:

Experience hands-on strategies, receive NASA materials, and learn about NASA space science research in the context of 400 years of technology-enabled astronomical discovery. In the afternoon, participants choose one of three parallel in-depth sessions to explore NASA resources that can support IYA education programs and events:

IYA 2. Amateur Astronomers as Champions of IYA
9 am to 5:15 pm

Lead Presenters:
Marni Berendsen, Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Vivian White, Astronomical Society of the Pacific

Find out about the upcoming plans to support amateur astronomers during IYA, including themes, activities, publicity, and incentives. Be a part of this working symposium for amateur and professional astronomers interested in working with them. Participants will directly influence the national efforts of this IYA project involving the Night Sky Network and other amateur astronomers interested in EPO. You will receive a preliminary package containing proposed activities and resources that would be made available to amateur astronomers during 2009. We will explore and use the activities as designed. Participants will break into teams to give feedback and make recommendations about the deliverables offered. Hear from NASA and the other programs and organizations collaborating with the ASP to provide resources to amateur astronomers in their roles as informal educators during IYA 2009. Among these programs are GLOBE at Night, NASA's LCROSS Mission, IYA's "Looking through a Telescope" working group, and Galileoscopes.

IYA 3. Telling Science Like A Story: Storytelling Techniques for IYA Education Programs
9 am to 5:15 pm

Presenters:
Lynn Moroney, professional storyteller
Anna Hurst, Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Other presenters TBD

Storytelling is a highly effective communication tool and one of the most economical types of outreach programs. This workshop offer "tricks" of the storytelling trade, with emphasis on storytelling for IYA. We focus on educators from museums, nature centers, and science centers, though all educators are welcome. The featured presenter is Lynn Moroney, a professional storyteller long involved in astronomy education, notably as a storyteller for SkyTellers from the Lunar & Planetary Institute. During the morning session, limited to 40 participants, we will share techniques to use oral storytelling to communicate science and to complement hands-on activities that do the same. Bring a story to share! The group will discuss the science within each story, comparing the language of story and the language of science. The afternoon session will be a lively program featuring several storytellers and astronomy-related folklore from around the world.

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Sunday, June 1, 2008

IYA 4. In the Footsteps of Galileo: A Workshop for Educators
9 am to 5:15 pm

Presenters:
Wil van der Veen, New Jersey Astronomy Center
Theresa Moody, New Jersey Astronomy Center
Vivian White, Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Tierney O'Dea, Slooh Inc.

Are you tired of teaching that same old scientific method lesson? Are you looking for ideas that bring the process of science to life for your students? Experience hands-on inquiry based activities that allow your students to recreate the excitement of Galileo's historic observations. This workshop will illustrate Galileo's telescopic observations of the moons of Jupiter and the phases of Venus and how his use of evidence formed the basis for the modern scientific process. By recording and analyzing data, making predictions, and using multiple forms of evidence, you will be challenged to find support for a heliocentric solar system. Experience a variety of kinesthetic models to help your students understand their data, including modeling of the phases of our Moon and Venus and the motion of Jupiter's moons. Discover how your students can control remote telescopes to gather their own data and start their own path of scientific discovery.

IYA 5A: Building a Telescope From the Ground Up
9 am to 12:30 pm

Presenters:
Robert T. Sparks, Stephen M. Pompea, Constance E. Walker,
National Optical Astronomy Observatory

The telescope is one of the most important tools in astronomy. From Galileo's first use of a small refractor almost 400 years ago to the large telescopes of today, telescopes have allowed us to peer ever farther into the universe. The workshop will impart the skills necessary for participants to lead activities as part of the International Year of Astronomy (IYA). Our workshop will give participants a series of activities they can use at their home institution to host events for the public and students where they can learn the science behind telescopes. Participants will receive a small kit with samples of lenses, mirrors and other materials. Prototypes of the Galileoscope (a high quality small refracting telescope kit) being developed by NOAO and its partners will be featured. Participants in this workshop will have an opportunity to lead further IYA activities and to receive additional kits and materials.

IYA 5B: Dark Skies from the Ground Up: Activities to Raise Awareness During IYA
1:45 to 5:15 pm

Presenters:
Constance E. Walker, NOAO
Chuck Bueter, Nightwise
Stephen M. Pompea, NOAO
Karrie Berglund, Digitalis Educational Solutions
Terry Mann, Astronomical League
Pamela Gay, Southern Illinois University
Bob Crelin, BobCrelin.com
Darron Collins, World Wildlife Fund
Robert T. Sparks, NOAO

The ASP "Dark Skies…" workshop is offered to provide the International Year of Astronomy (IYA) dark skies programs to a variety of workshop participants. Participants can include educators, education and public outreach professionals, science center/museum/planetarium staff and amateur or professional astronomers who want to lead activities involving dark skies awareness in conjunction with IYA. From a package of educational materials, participants will choose the dark skies programs with which to become more familiar and break into groups during the workshop. We will provide the "know-how" and the means for workshop attendees to become community leaders in promoting these dark skies programs as public events at their home institutions during IYA. Participants will be able to jump-start their education programs through the use of well-developed instructional materials and kits that will be distributed as part of the workshop. For more information about the Dark Skies IYA theme, visit http://astronomy2009.us/darkskies/.

IYA 6. Afterschool Universe: Beyond the Solar System, Beyond the School Day
9 am to 5:15 pm

Presenters:
Anita Krishnamurthi, CRESST/University of Maryland & NASA GSFC
Sarah Eyermann, SP Systems & NASA GSFC
Sara Mitchell, SP Systems & NASA GSFC
James Lochner, CRESST/USRA & NASA GSFC

This workshop will familiarize participants with NASA's "Afterschool Universe", a hands-on out-of-school-time astronomy program, targeted at middle school students. Using interdisciplinary teaching techniques, it explores basic astronomy concepts and takes participants on a journey through the universe beyond the solar system. The program begins with an exploration of participants' current ideas about the universe. It then moves on to tools astronomers use (telescopes and spectroscopes) and how they use light to see objects in space. The program ends with an exploration of specific objects such as stars, galaxies, and black holes. "Afterschool Universe" offers an opportunity to run a well-tested and easily implemented out-of-school-time program in your own local communities during IYA and beyond. We will discuss the manual, website (http://universe.nasa.gov/afterschool/), and other resources available. Participants will also implement selected activities in the program so that you leave the workshop feeling confident in your ability to run the program.

IYA 7A: Effective Strategies for Engaging Latino/Hispanic Audiences in Astronomy during IYA: Examples Using Daytime Astronomy
9 am to 12:30 pm

Presenters:
Laura Peticolas (Center for Science Education at the University of California, Berkeley, CA)
Bryan Mendez (Center for Science Education at the University of California, Berkeley, CA)
Isabel Hawkins (Center for Science Education at the University of California, Berkeley, CA)
Christi Whitworth (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, Rosman, NC)

Come experience best practices in professional development of elementary- and middle-school teachers of Latino/Hispanic students in astronomy and space science; and participate in effective strategies of public outreach, geared to inspire and engage Latino/Hispanic families through community astronomy activities grounded in their own cultural and scientific legacy. Modeling our international year of astronomy (IYA) workshops, we invite colleagues to participate in hands-on activities for the classroom, followed by a cultural and science community outreach event. This workshop will focus on daytime astronomy in the context of the International Year of Astronomy, and will include topics such as the Sun, sidewalk or on site observing sessions of the Sun, size and scale of the Sun-Earth system, magnetism on the Sun and Earth, and solar eclipses. We will link our presentation and resources to cultural components. Participants will take home a set of resources modeled at this workshop.

IYA 7B: A User's Guide for Plugging into the New Media Community for IYA
1:45 to 5:15 pm

Presenters:
Pamela L. Gay, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville / Astronomy Cast
Lars Lindberg Christensen, Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre
Adrienne Gauthier, University of Arizona
Robert L. Hurt, Spitzer Science Center, IPAC
Michael Koppelman, University of Minnesota
Erika Lakdawalla, Planetary Society
Chris Lintott, Oxford University
Phil Plait, Bad Astronomy
Pedro Russo, Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre
M. Jordan Raddick, Johns Hopkins University

IYA is designing dynamic online astronomy experiences to reach the public in the places they work, play, and learn online. Web 2.0 technologies, including social networks, Second Life, and data sharing tools like Google Sky, will allow IYA to make astronomy part of the digital zeitgeist. This workshop will introduce participates to planned New Media projects and invite them to become part of the content-providing community as we build creative, interactive programs. In this 2-part workshop, we will first provide astronomy communicators and content providers a tour of existing new media programs and demonstrate ways to plug into the IYA New Media framework. Next, we will split into break-out-groups in which participants can sit with experts and learn more about specific programs. All content providers, including PIO officers, bloggers, journalists, and podcasters, are welcome. While some laptops will be provided, participants are encouraged to bring laptops.

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