What is NITARP? NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive
Research Program, is a mechanism for getting authentic research
experiences ultimately into classrooms across the United States. We
partner scientists with (primarily) high school teachers, do a
research project, and the teachers incorporate the experience into
their classroom.
Who is doing this? The Spitzer Science Center
(SSC) and the NASA
Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) (with help from the
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
(NOAO)) are leading this program. We select educators from a
nation-wide selection process. We are using archival data from
the Spitzer Space
Telescope, the NASA/IPAC
Extragalactic Database (NED), the NASA Exoplanet Archive, the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science
Archive (IRSA) and other NASA archive holdings.
What is the goal? This program has as its goals the
fundamental NASA goals of inspiring and motivating students to pursue
careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well
as to engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of
exploration and discovery. Our educational plan addresses the NASA
objectives of improving student proficiency in science and improving
science instruction by providing a unique opportunity for groups of
teachers and students (with the help of a mentor astronomer) to work
with professional astronomical archival data and tools. The research
team completes the data analysis, and presents their findings to
others throughout the scientific community. The teachers are also
expected to give presentations at relevant teachers' conferences
and/or professional development presentations for their local
educator community.
Didn't this used to be called something else?
The original incarnation of this program was started in 2004 and
called the Spitzer Space Telescope Research Program for Teachers and
Students. Leveraging on a well-established teacher professional
development program, the SSC offered this program to teachers in the
Teacher
Leaders in Research Based Science Education (TLRBSE), an ongoing
program at the NOAO. This NSF-sponsored program touches the formal
education community through a national audience of well-trained and
supported middle and high school teachers. We had three rounds of
teacher selection and research projects. Starting in 2009, we got
new funding and a new name (NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research
Program -- NITARP).
How can I be involved? This program is aimed at high
school teachers, though 8th grade and community college teachers might
also benefit. In certain contexts, non-classroom and/or
non-traditional educators may also
participate, provided they have a plan for sharing their experiences
with their community at home. Please contact us if you have specific
questions.
How can I be involved, whether or not I am formally
part of NITARP?
One of the teams in the original program started a wiki where we could share
all sorts of materials we developed. The next generation NITARP
project has inherited this wiki and will continue to
develop it. Even if you are not part of this program, you can check
out the resources on the wiki and learn how to play with Spitzer data
(and eventually other archive data) yourself!
How can I be involved, e.g., be a teacher who is part of NITARP?
Applications are solicited annually, as long as we have money
available. Applications are ready in May, and are due in September.
Who participated before? Here is a
page listing everyone and all of their accomplishments as part of this
program.
The teachers participating in the original program were:
Jeff Adkins, John Blackwell, Kareen Borders, Howard T. Chun, Lauren K.
Chapple, Harlan V. Devore, Velvet Dowdy, Cris DeWolf, Peter Guastella,
Rosa Hemphill, Ardis Herrold, Chelen H. Johnson, Virginia Jones,
Susan Kelly, Thomas Loughran, Anthony R. Maranto, Chris Martin, David
W. McDonald, Jeff Paradis, Vincent Pereira, Peter Pitman, Steve Rapp,
Theresa Roelofsen, John Schaefers, Babs Sepulveda, Linda Stefaniak,
Timothy S. Spuck, Dwight Taylor, Jen Tetler, Beth Thomas, Cynthia
Weehler and Lynne Zielinski.
Support scientists included: Ranga-Ram Chary, Vandana Desai, John
Feldmeier, Rose Finn, Varoujan Gorjian, Don Hoard, Steve Howell, Mark
Lacy, Luisa Rebull, and Gregory Rudnick.
The NITARP 2010 class of teachers were: Richard DeCoster, Dean
Drumheller, Vivian Hoette, Chelen Johnson (mentor), Carolyn Mallory,
Kevin McCarron, Kate Meredith, Helen Petach, Peggy Piper, Elizabeth
Ramseyer, Sally Seebode (mentor), Tim Spuck (mentor), Darryl Stanford,
Beth Thomas (mentor).
Support scientists were: Varoujan Gorjian,
Steve Howell, Luisa Rebull, and Donald Hoard. IPAC staff also
participating were Russ Laher, Mark Legassie, and Mark Abajian.
The NITARP 2011 class of teachers were:
John Blackwell (mentor), Merrill Butler, Stacy DeVeau, Debbie Edwards,
Michiel Ford, John Gibbs, Chelen Johnson (mentor), Adam Keeton,
Marcella Linahan, Shefali Mehta, Diane Sartore, and Tim Spuck
(mentor).
Support scientists were: Varoujan Gorjian, Luisa Rebull, Steve Howell,
and David Ciardi. IPAC staff also participating were Russ Laher, Mark
Legassie, and Mark Abajian.
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