Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

LIGO Science Education Center:

Partnering

• Research Labs

• Universities

• Education Agencies

• Informal Learning Centers

John Thacker May 19, 2005

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Exploratorium

LaSIP/La GEAR UP

LIGO

SUBR

LIGOSEC

OurPartnership

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Exploratorium

Teaching & Learning

Over 650 exhibits

An educational center

Informal learning environment

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Southern University

College of Sciences

• Dept of Physics

• Dept of Mathematics

College of Education

• Course Redesign

• E-Learning

• Pre-service Teacher training

• Docent training

• Student Field Trips

A Leading producer of teachers in LA

Largest HBCU System in the nation

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGOLA GEAR UP

Louisiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs

statewide K-16+ educational reform agency

school connections

Teacher Professional Development

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

The mission of LIGO (LASER Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) is to detect and study astrophysical gravitational waves.

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

LIGO SEC Floor Plan

Informal and Formal Science Teaching and Learning

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

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

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Teacher Professional Development

Inquiry based

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Exhibit Training

Project MISE

Project RIPPLE

Project PRISM=HQT

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Reaching a Broad Audience of Students

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGOGeneral Public

The Historical Society models the space-time continuum.

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Research Lab

Schools

Museums

Making Research Findings “Available” at Appropriate Level

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Research

Lab

Schools

Choosing Appropriate Science Content Themes

ResonanceInterference

WavesGravity

Light

AstronomyOscillations Feedback

LIGO Science

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

Choose exhibits that build on your science themes

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

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

Science Education Center Outreach ProgramScience Education Center Outreach Program

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LIGO

The LIGO SEC work is supported by the National Science Foundation grants Phy-0107417 and PHY-0355454