May 18, 2005
Panel star struck about science
Project ASTRO holds conference in Traverse City
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
With their eyes on the stars, Project ASTRO site directors have their feet firmly planted on terra firma.
A dozen site directors of the educational program gathered for two days at the Hagerty Center of Northwestern Michigan College for their annual meeting.
The fast-paced agenda featured updates from each site, mainly descriptions of how they bring science and astronomy to schools, teachers and families in their area - plus the challenges they face doing so. The meeting also featured input from two area science teachers, including Sandy Mills from West Junior High, who have brought Project ASTRO to their classrooms.
Jerry Dobek, the college's astronomer and site director for Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO, hosted the meeting. Northwestern Michigan College is one of 13 colleges and universities around the country who offer this opportunity. The college became a Project ASTRO site in 1998.
Since then, Dobek and volunteer astronomers from the Grand Traverse Astrological Society have visited classrooms in the region to make comets and scale maps of the solar system. The have also sparked a light pollution survey that documented the ever-brightening nighttime sky in the county and have numerous educational kits available.
"All ages, we've been able to reach all ages, K-12, and I've even incorporated Project ASTRO into college classes I've taught," he said.
The Astronomical Society of the Pacific began Project ASTRO in 1993 to bring astronomers, whether professional or amateur, into classrooms to teach astronomy. The project began with funding from the National Science Foundation but each site has since become self-funded.
Project ASTRO and Family ASTRO include a variety of kits and supplement to a school's science curriculum. When exploring astronomy using these kits, other subjects often seamlessly blend into the education process, including science, math and even English and social studies. The key is to spark an interest in exploration and encourage critical thinking skills, not just teach astronomical facts.
"What we're trying to foster is that discovery of learning," he said. "Project ASTRO builds the synergism between all of the disciplines - it's not just hands on, it's mind on."
Dobek also invited Kevin Richards, the science educational consultant for the Michigan Department of Education, to talk to the site coordinators Saturday morning. A science educator passionate about kids and learning, Richards discussed national educational achievement goals and national science standards. He also described Michigan's assessment process and the state's performance benchmarks in science currently under development.
These issues are important to Project ASTRO site directors because they have the tools to help train educators as well as work with students and families, Dobek noted.
"Teachers that I've worked with have found ways to incorporate Project ASTRO's inquiry-based activities into all areas of education and the best part is that the students see it as well," he said. "Teachers see how Project ASTRO can draw the students into critical thinking skills based on inquiry. At the state and the national level, there are areas for support there; we can build on that and actually make education better."
Wil van der Veen, director of planetarium at the Rariton Valley Community College in New Jersey, described successful partnerships between astronomers and educators in his state. With astronomy on the fourth grade assessment test for New Jersey students, he said educators came to him and Project ASTRO for help.
"We are there to help them meet these standards," said van der Veen, a professional astronomer by training. "We get school districts now coming to us and asking us to help them teach their second grade teachers or their third or fourth grade teachers."
"Find out the standards in your state and make the teachers understand that you can help them with Project ASTRO," he recommended to the site directors.