LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program LIGO Science

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program LIGO Science Education Center: • • Partnering • • Research Labs Universities Education Agencies Informal Learning Centers John Thacker May 19, 2005 1

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program SUBR Our Partnership LIGO SEC La. SIP/La GEAR UP Exploratorium 2

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Exploratorium An educational center Informal learning environment Over 650 exhibits Teaching & Learning 3

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Southern University College of Education College of Sciences • Dept of Physics • Dept of Mathematics § A Leading producer of teachers in LA § Largest HBCU System in the nation • Course Redesign • E-Learning • Pre-service Teacher training • Docent training • Student Field Trips 4

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program LA GEAR UP Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs § statewide K 16+ educational reform agency § school connections § Teacher Professional Development 5

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program The mission of LIGO (LASER Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) is to detect and study astrophysical gravitational waves. 6

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Informal and Formal Science Teaching and Learning LIGO SEC Floor Plan 7

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program LIGO Science Education Center Objectives include: • Pre-service and in-service teacher training • Reach a broad audience of students in Louisiana and regional area • General public outreach 8

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Teacher Professional Development Inquiry based 9

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Exhibit Training Project MISE Project RIPPLE Project PRISM=HQT 10

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Reaching a Broad Audience of Students 11

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program General Public The Historical Society models the space-time continuum. 12

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Museums Research Lab Schools Making Research Findings “Available” at Appropriate Level 13

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program h c r a e s e R b La Resonance Light Waves LIGO Science Interference Schools Gravity Feedback Oscillations Astronomy Choosing Appropriate Science Content Themes 14

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program Choose exhibits that build on your science themes 15

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program LIGO SEC Summary • Multi-faceted approach to outreach • LIGO SEC facility will be fully used for student learning and teacher PD • “Focused science” themes • Interactive Exhibits will be used to • anchor students and teachers in LIGO science themes Regional resource: National Implications 16

LIGO Science Education Center Outreach Program The LIGO SEC work is supported by the National Science Foundation grants Phy -0107417 and PHY-0355454 17