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

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

• Make Space Science accessible 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 Later Focus on KS2
• Science Specialist Schools
• Regional Broadband Consortia
• 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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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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Virtual Observatories

• 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 s/w project
• Multi-institute consortium 8M over 6 yrs
• Infrastructure technologies generally relevant
• Project Scientist Nic Walton (naw_at_ast.cam.ac.uk)
• Key Links
• www.astrogrid.org
• www.ivoa.net - VO international 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 Systemleveraging the AstroGrid
architecture
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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'
• Target 30 non-specialist schools gt 'typical
  environment'
• Support school collaboratories (key 'broadband'
  aim)
• Age group
• KS3
• Leverage PPARC/CCLRC Science and eScience
• Content
• Dynamic delivery of 'in the news' science e.g.
  MarsExpress
• Astronomy (stars and planets), Solar, Earth
• Teacher Training
• Via science learning centres

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The SchoolSpace Team

• 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
• PPARC Science in Society/ BNSC Learning Zone

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Pilot Partners

• Schools
• Specialist Science Schools
• Work with ASE
• Regional Broadband Consortia
• E2BN (contacted, meeting arranged)
• EMBC
• LGfL
• Science Learning Centres
• Hatfield (contacted, meeting tbc)
• Leicester
• Southampton

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Project Timelines

• Kick-off Sep 2005 (assumes ads for hires Mar 05)
• Year One
• User requirements/ content 3 months
• Technology construction 9 months
• Easter 2006 engagement/ training 'pilot group'
  teachers
• Year Two
• Sept 2006 pilot SchoolSpace in target schools
• Feedback, support and assessment
• SchoolSpace
• Expand project to rollout nationally
• Project extension pilot to cover KS2

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Resourcesindicative budget 700K for 2 yrs

• Project co-ordinator IoA
• Linkage to NSEI, teacher interface
• Educational curriculum developers
• Content developer Cardiff
• Multiple inputs, astronomy, solar system, earth
  obs
• Two software engineers CeSC,Leic
• Engineering based on AstroGrid components
• Key issues of interface to existing school
  systems
• Web designer/ UI specialist MSSL
• 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 curricula 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