SchoolSpace Delivering Space Science to School Nicholas Walton Institute of Astronomy University of

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SchoolSpaceDelivering Space Science to
SchoolNicholas WaltonInstitute of
AstronomyUniversity of Cambridge
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SchoolSpace Concept

• Make Space Science assessible to schools
• Raise 'science' profile across the curriculum
• Deliver appropriate materials
• latest astronomy content key science partners
• relevant format education partners
• eScience technologies for delivery AstroGrid
• Pilot programme
• Target group KS3 4
• Science Specialist Schools
• Scalable for future wider rollout

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Complex Problems in Astronomy

• Access and manipulating data that is
• Multi-wavelength
• Multi-temporal
• Massive
• Distributed

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Virtual Observatory Understanding Linkages A
Solar-Terrestrial Model
What happens to the Earth's magnetosphere during
a coronal mass ejection ?
Effect detected later by satellites and ground
radar
Event imaged by space based solar observatory
SOHO/EIT EUV
NASA Living With a Star http//lws.gsfc.nasa.go
v
Yohkoh Xray
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Solutions for Astronomy

• 'Grid'
• Relevant new technology to support distributed
  computing
• Virtual Observatories
• Develop agreed interoperability standards
• Create infrastructures based on new technologies

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The Grid an emerging technology
In astronomy, Grid Technologies will enable the
creation of Virtual Observatories
Grid technology will allow seamless access and
use of computing resources as well as
information. Grid technology could revolutionise
the scientific process.
Photos NeSC/Paul Edwards
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Virtual Observatories (VO)

• Global initiatives aimed at providing seamless
  access to hetereogeneous and distributed data
  sets
• Key development metadata flexible to describe
  data suitable for various target audiences
• AstroGrid in the UK
• Significant software project
• Multi-institute consortium 8M over 6 yrs
• Infrastructure technologies relevant to
  SchoolSpace
• Project Scientist Nic Walton (naw_at_ast.cam.ac.uk)
• Key Links
• www.astrogrid.org
• www.ivoa.net - international VO standards body

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SchoolSpace A place for eLearning
UK Schools investing in broadband internet new
possibilities in interacting with
centrally managed, curriculum aligned, products.
Access to the best tools to support educational
programmes irrespective of physical location
Size and Scale
e.g. Supporting A-level to KS2 studies
Science, ICT, English, Maths
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SchoolSpace Collaboratory
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Example 'Dynamic' Content Creationavailable to
others through 'registry' and 'mySpace'
Photo NASA
Photo NASA
Photo ESA
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Now the 'Right Time' for SchoolSpace

• Fall off in 'science' interest post KS2 an issue
• Recently highlighted by Roberts (2002)
• Growth of networking between schools
• Primary (KS2) to Secondary (KS3) interface
• Increasing uptake on 'broadband' by schools
• Ability to deliver in 'realtime' from remote
  servers
• All 2ry schools gt8Mb/s connection by 2006
• Increasing use of network distributed resources
• NGfL
• Broadband networks e.g. E2BN
• More IT provision portals, s/w support

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Project Scope

• Two year pilot project
• Target 30 science specialist schools gt 'beacons'
• Support school collaboratories (key 'broadband'
  aim)
• Age group
• KS3 and KS4
• Benefit from PPARC/CCLRC Science and eScience
• Content
• Dynamic delivery of 'in the news' science e.g.
  MarsExpress
• Astronomy (stars and planets), Sun, Earth
  Observations
• Teacher Training
• Via science learning centres

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SchoolSpace Partners

• Astronomy Education
• Faulkes Telescope project _at_ Cardiff
• Leicester 'classroom space' initiative
• Leicester National Space Centre
• Science Education
• Cambridge Millennium Mathematics Project
• Science Content deep space, solar system, earth
• Cambridge, Leicester, MSSL/UCL, RAL
• Technology
• AstroGrid, Cambridge eScience, Leicester
  e-Science
• BNSC partners PPARC, CCLRC

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Project Timelines

• Kick-off Sept 2004
• Year One
• User requirements/ content 3 months
• Technology construction 9 months
• Easter 2005 engagement/ training 'pilot group'
  teachers
• Year Two
• Sept 2005 pilot SchoolSpace in science
  specialist schools
• Feedback, support and assessment
• SchoolSpace
• Expand project to rollout nationally
• Project extension pilot to cover KS2

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Indicative Resources

• Project co-ordinator/ educator
• Organise teacher interface, training
• Content developer
• Astronomy, solar system, earth observations,
  climate change
• Two to Three software engineers
• Engineering based on AstroGrid components
• Key issues of interface to existing school
  systems
• Web designer/ user interface specialist
• Lead interface to school/LEA IT systems
• Pilot study hardware/software infrastructure
• Training and communications

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SchoolSpace Deliverables

• Portal access (behind normal school portal)
• Security and access control conform to existing
  school policy
• Dynamic on-line content
• Supporting existing curricular materials from
  e.g. Learning Zone, Faulkes Telescope,
  ClassroomSpace
• Delivery of content from 'managed' data centres
• Archives of school observatory observations
• School-ready 'professional' materials
• Collaboration space employing AstroGrid's
  MySpace
• Video space
• streaming video 'mini-lessons' (c.f. MOTIVATE)
• Challenger e-mission