January-June 2008
This is my first report. I was selected as a spitzer reacher teacher in December
2007, and went to AAS in January 2008. Our original proposal for observing time was
not accepted. On May 16th, I and other teachers had a teleconference with Varoujan
Gorijan to discuss the new project exploring NGC 4051. This seyfert galaxy was to be
imaged in IR and visible. Unfortunately, my school closed for summer vacation on the
23rd May, so there was little time for classroom involvement. However, I did arrange
for four students to use NMSO to image NGC 4051.
I am learning about Active Galactic Nuclei. I am learning how IR data is gained from
Spitzer, and I am thinking about how WISE could be used.
Four of my students gathered in a local hotel to use NMSO on 8 nights. They
successfully gained images on six of those nights. The two students who will come to
Pasadena with me will spearhead the spitzer project in my Physics class. The Physics
curriculum is designed around projects and this spitzer project fits. I am planning
for my grade 9 students to use the images from this project and project RGB images
with imageJ. The art teacher at my school is keen to work with my students on visual
representations of NGC 4051.
My school is a small school where 50% of the students have learning difficulties and
many are at risk. There is great enthusiasm for this spitzer project. I had no
trouble finding students to use NMSO during their summer vacation.
What is the status of student work in this program?
The students have imaged NGC 4051 in R,V and B. The next task is to use the APT
photometry tool to measure the flux of the nucleus. My students have used photometry
in two projects; examining open clusters, and searching for blue band dropouts in
the Bootes field. The photometry in this project will not be difficult.
Future Plans:
The Physics students will be doing most of the research in this project. However, I
want to develop projects that can be used in the integrated science class and the
Art classes. I also want to investigate how the WISE survey data can be used to
investigate other seyfert galaxies. As soon as I return from Pasadena, I will
schedule a professional development meeting with the staff at my school, so that I
can share the project with them and plan cross curricula projects.
Has this program had any positive effect on your school or school district?
Absolutely. The school district has an award ceremony where individuals are
recognized. I was presented an award for my participation in the Spitzer project.
Presentations:
Howenstine High School, professional development, April 16th
30 staff
Jeff Adkins
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John Blackwell
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Jacqueline Barge
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Christopher Border
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Kareen Borders
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Robert Bonadurer
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Merrill Butler
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Lauren Chapple
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Joseph Childers
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Howard Chun
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Wendy Curtis
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Richard DeCoster
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Stacy DeVeau
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Harlan Devore
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Cris DeWolf
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Velvet Dowdy
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Thomas Doyle
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Dean Drumheller
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Debbie Edwards
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Mike Ford
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Debbie French
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John Gibbs
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Peter Guastella
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Rosa Hemphill
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Ardis Herrold
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Vivian Hoette
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Chelen Johnson
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Virginia Jones
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Adam Keeton
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Susan Kelly
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Marcella Linahan
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Thomas Loughran
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Carolyn Mallory
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Anthony Maranto
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Christoper Martin
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Kevin McCarron
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Matthew McCutcheon
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David McDonald
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Shefali Mehta
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Cindy Melton
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Kate Meredith
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Lauren Novatne
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Kathryn O'Connor
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Caroline Odden
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Jeffrey Paradis
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Vincent Pereira
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Helen Petach
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Peggy Piper
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Peter Pitman
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Elizabeth Ramseyer
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Steve Rapp
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Theresa Roelofsen Moody
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Denise Rothrock
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Diane Sartore
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John Schaefers
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Sally Seebode
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Babs Sepulveda
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Timothy Spuck
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Darryl Stanford
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Linda Stefaniak
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Dwight Taylor
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Jennifer Tetler
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Beth Thomas
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Cynthia Weehler
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Lynne Zielinski
