Project ASTRO: a successful model for astronomer/teacher partnerships

Summary

Overview

Project ASTRO is designed to improve astronomy education and science literacy in grades 4–9 by creating effective working partnerships between teachers/youth leaders and astronomers (both professional and amateur). Key elements of the program include:

• training the teachers/youth leaders and astronomers together in inquiry-based “handson, minds-on” learning activities

• encouraging an active working partnership between the astronomer and the teacher/youth leader

• encouraging multiple visits by the astronomer to the classroom or youth group meetings.

The ASP conducted a Project ASTRO pilot in California from 1992–1995, funded primarily by the National Science Foundation. The success of the pilot led to a second grant from NSF (1996–1998) to expand Project ASTRO to several other cities in the United States.

In the 3-year pilot project a total of 104 astronomers and 150 teachers formed 96 teams. More than 85% of the astronomers visited their adopted classrooms four or more times, with 46% making 5–10 visits during the school year. Approximately 10,000 students were involved. The Project ASTRO staff developed an extensive set of astronomy activities and tested resources, now available from the ASP as The Universe at Your Fingertips: An Astronomy Activity and Resource Notebook. The staff also published the Project ASTRO How-To Manual for Teachers and Astronomers.

In the first years, astronomers and teachers received stipends for attending training workshops. All participants either volunteered their time or were given release time by their employers for all time involved in planning and implementing their partnership visits and activities.

The independent evaluator rated the project “extremely successful”, noting that 91% of the teachers felt they were teaching more astronomy as a result of the project.