Space Grant Consortium - University of Wisconsin - Green Bay

The cost of a one credit graduate class from the University of Wisconsin system
in 2008 was $342.30. Most teachers found this cost excessive and
consequently, they met their certification requirements by taking just about any
class that offers a price break…..often classes having nothing to do with their
personal interests. We also knew that cash-strapped teachers will attend
workshops on almost any topic if stipends are awarded.
In conversations with teachers, we discovered that a significant number of
teachers were intimidated by the idea of taking a graduate level class in
astronomy. Furthermore, an increasing number of teachers now are meeting
certification requirements by creating portfolios rather than completing graduate
level classes.
Procedures
To meet the needs of our target group….teachers with little or no experience or
prior interest in space-related science…. we offered two after-school
workshops. A teacher could attend one or both workshop sessions, following
which they were given the option of arranging a space-related visit to
Crossroads or a classroom visit from either the naturalist or a member of the
Door Peninsula Astronomical Society. Each teacher who participated and
returned an evaluation received a $50 stipend and a free supper for each
workshop and $200 scholarship enabling them to take the class.
Flyers headed “Crossroads Is Giving Money to Teachers” and “Planetarium,
Planning, and Pizza” were given to all elementary teachers (public and private
schools) of four school districts, announcing that the stipend and a free pizza
supper would be offered to teachers who participated. Pre-registration was
required.
During the workshops, we emphasized hands-on, experience based activities,
but the workshops focused on content learning, with the objective of helping
teachers answer the questions of their students with accuracy and confidence.
Another objective was to introduce teachers to our newly acquired StarLab
Planetarium.
The graduate level one credit hour class offered through the Education Outreach
program of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, “Teaching Astronomy in
the Elementary School” drew from workshop participants. This class delved
more deeply into presenting concepts through hands-on activities.
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