[Someone on these lists might be interested...if so, please contact them via the address or website below. -Elizabeth Roettger] Date: Thu, 25 Jan 2001 20:17:51 -0500 From: Vern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Announcement of Opportunity Announcement of Opportunity January 19, 2001 How would you like to take your entire community on a journey from spaceship Earth to places unknown? Imagine: - Parents and their children exploring the space frontier as families through programs designed for family learning; - Teachers from across your region learning how to bring the universe, human exploration, and the process of science alive in the classroom; - Thousands of students in dozens of schools visited by space scientists and engineers gifted at communicating their passion for science and space exploration. But why imagine when you can help make this dream a reality? Last year Challenger Center for Space Science Education launched Window on the Universe, a program that is creating a network of under-served communities dedicated to sustained science, math, and technology education. This unique program, funded by NASA's Human Exploration and Development of Space Enterprise and Office of Space Science, uses the themes of human space flight and the space sciences as the interdisciplinary means to inspire entire communities. A hallmark of the program is its ability to build community-wide partnerships between local area school districts; museums, science centers, and planetaria; grade K-13 educators; local area researchers and amateur astronomers; business and civic organizations; and the public at large. Window on the Universe hopes to reach communities with limited human space flight and space science education resources, or those where resources are not utilized community-wide. This includes, but is not limited to, communities in rural settings, as well as low-income populations in urban settings. The Partnership Let Challenger Center open up a Window on the Universe for your entire community. We'll provide: - A national team of researchers and educators for a fantastic week of kick-off programming in each of the first two years. Window on the Universe Week includes training for 100-200 K-12 educators on education modules designed for the program; gifted researchers speaking to thousands of students in classrooms; and 2-3 family science nights each for hundreds of parents and students; - Grades K-12 education modules on human space flight and the space sciences that are mapped to the national science standards. Modules include science content, inquiry-based activities, and resources for elementary (K-4), middle (5-8), and high school (9-12) classrooms, as well as materials for home use; - A Community Resource How-To Manual which includes all the logistical and advertising information needed to coordinate Window on the Universe programming with support from Challenger Center; - Annual educator training to help facilitate the integration of new education modules and other human space flight and space science resources into the classroom; and - Ongoing support from Challenger Center including pathways throughout the year for your educators to Ask a Space Scientist or Ask a Science Educator questions relating to space science content and science pedagogy. Window on the Universe communities integrate these resources into existing community-wide science, math, and technology education programming, and extend this programming in creative new ways. We're providing the resources to help you build bridges across your community. What's the next step? Visit our website at: www.challenger.org/wotu There, you'll find more information about the program and how to apply. Communities that do not have Internet access may call Challenger Center at 703/683-9740, to request additional information. Prospective communities must complete a two-step process to be considered as a Window on the Universe community. The first step is an application, which must be completed and received at Challenger Center by March 5, 2001. The application will be available on our website, may be requested by e-mail, or may be obtained by calling Challenger Center. Communities will receive constructive feedback regarding the strengths and weaknesses of their application by March 16, 2001. Accompanying the feedback will be guidelines for submitting a proposal package, which is a more robust and formal expression of a community's interest and support. Full proposals must be received at Challenger Center by May 14, 2001. Up to six communities will be selected in May 2001 for Window programming that will begin in the 2001-02 academic year. Still have questions? Contact Challenger Center: E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: 703/683-9740 Or, you can write us at: Challenger Center for Space Science Education Attn: Window on the Universe 1250 N. Pitt Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Challenger Center for Space Science Education is a global not-for-profit education organization created in 1986 by the families of the astronauts tragically lost during the last flight of the Challenger Space Shuttle. Dedicated to the educational spirit of that mission, Challenger Center develops Learning Centers and other educational programs worldwide to continue the mission to engage students in science and math education. Challenger Center's network of Learning Centers throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom have been recognized leaders in educational simulation, with a strong standards-based emphasis. Challenger Learning Centers and Challenger Center's award-winning classroom and teacher training programs all use the excitement of space exploration to create positive learning experiences that raise students' expectations of success; foster in them a long-term interest in math, science, and technology; and helps them develop critical communication, decision-making, team-building, and collaborative skills. -- This is the CPS Science Teacher List. To unsubscribe, send a message to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For more information: <http://home.sprintmail.com/~mikelach/subscribe.html>. To search the archives: <http://www.mail-archive.com/science%40lists.csi.cps.k12.il.us/>
