 Volume 2 - Spring 2007
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Welcome to STARLAB e-News, Volume 2!Welcome back! In this, the second edition of STARLAB e-News, you will find exciting news about Digital STARLAB, some new cylinder offerings for STARLAB, some great contributions from fellow STARLAB users, an updated convention and workshop calendar and much more. This issue focuses not only on STARLAB, but other hands-on science materials that have proven beneficial time and time again. I am speaking, of course, about Project STAR. I am such a believer in these low-cost astronomy materials developed by high school astronomy teachers and scientists at the Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. I have used them for many years with great success as a teacher at the middle school level, but as you read on, you will find that elementary students can benefit as well. If you have not examined the full line of Project STAR materials I urge you to do so. We hope you are enjoying STARLAB e-News. Please keep your contributions coming. We really want to hear from you and would like to share your experiences with other STARLAB users around the world. This is a great opportunity to showcase your STARLAB program or even a novel activity that has worked well with your students. Let me hear from you! Contact me at gkratzer@rocketmail.com. |
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Digital STARLAB, Better Than Ever!Now with higher resolution and contrast ratio, it’s truly out of this world!Digital STARLAB, a portable, all-in-one digital planetarium projection system introduced by Learning Technologies, Inc. in November 2005, has wowed educators and students alike with its vast capabilities, high quality lessons and curriculum and user-friendly interface. Now Digital STARLAB has enhanced resolution (was 720, now 1080 pixels across diameter) and contrast ratio (was 7,000:1, is now 12,000:1) resulting in a truly breathtaking and realistic sky, unparalleled in its class. With a newly-designed custom fisheye lens (patent pending), Digital STARLAB creates precise and accurate small bright stars that remain spherical right down to the horizon. Its superior contrast creates a truly black background and it covers a full 180º x 360º on the dome. Features and Benefits of Digital STARLAB
See Digital STARLAB — even if you’ve seen it before, you must see it again! Come see it for yourself at one of the upcoming conferences:
Contact LTI for other viewing possibilities or to arrange a demonstration (1-800-537-8703 or starlab@starlab.com) or click for more information.
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STARLAB User News & ContributionsFisk-Vanderbilt Roadshow Puts Stars in Children’s Eyes Article and Photo Submitted by David F. Salisbury David James has an unusual but effective way to put stars in children’s eyes. He has them crawl into STARLAB, turns off the lights, creates a starry night sky that is literally close enough to touch and then begins peppering them with questions. James, an assistant research professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, directs the Fisk-Vanderbilt NASA Roadshow and Planetarium, a special program designed to bring the excitement of astronomy to Tennessee students, especially under-represented minorities. James, who is Welsh, got involved with STARLAB in Scotland where he ran a planetarium program for four years as a post doc. He met Keivan Stassun, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at Vanderbilt, at a scientific meeting in Palermo, Italy in 1999. The two shared a strong interest in science outreach and decided they would like to work together. So, when money became available to start such a program in Nashville, Stassun invited James to run it and James jumped at the opportunity. “We wanted someone who has the ability to connect with kids and does world-class research,” says Stassun. “David is one of the rare individuals with both these abilities.” Stassun is particularly committed to attracting minorities to careers in astronomy and astrophysics. Over the last 20 years, the number of minorities awarded doctorates in these fields has averaged only four per year, making them among the least diverse of the scientific professions. Although it is less than three years old, Stassun reports that the Roadshow has already produced one prospect: a Hispanic woman who got hooked on astronomy by James’ show and is now majoring in astronomy at the University of Tennessee. In the two-and-half years since James and his crew began putting on shows to schools and community centers in the area, they have educated and informed more than 10,000 students, nearly half of whom were girls and 38 percent were minorities. “Our students look forward to the planetarium visit each year and actually compete for an opportunity to participate in the experience,” says Ann Finley, who teaches at Springfield High School in Springfield, Tennessee. “It always stimulates an increased interest in astronomy among students in all age groups and academic ability levels.” “I truly marveled at how much my sixth grade students knew and the high-level questions they asked. Most of the students had the privilege of participating in the program in fifth grade and they remembered much of what was presented the year before!” says Mary Bellios from Rose Park Magnet School in Nashville. According to Chick Knitter, a teacher at Hobgood Elementary school in Murfreesboro, “Dr. James’ mission and dedication to education and the promotion of sciences and the skies above is refreshing and should serve as an inspiration to all educators.” Knitter emailed a photo of a hall full of enthusiastic children with the explanation that the picture was taken of students who had willingly stayed almost two hours after closing time to attend the planetarium show. “The kids are just great,” exclaims James. He explains that he uses a Montessori-like approach in the planetarium shows: “It’s sort of a free-for-all. I ask questions such as, “Why is this star red?” or “Why is it in this position?” And the kids shout out their answers. I listen until they are done, even when their answers are wrong, and then ask something to challenge their opinions, such as “Why do you think that?” “The kids respond extremely well when I invite them to defend their answers and show off how much they know. They enjoy this approach much more than if I just lectured them,” says James. _____________________ Students Prepare for Statewide Assessment by Gary Kratzer In early March, my eighth grade earth science classes at Oak Park Middle School in Lake Charles, Louisiana were busy preparing for the statewide assessment known as LEAP 21. The lessons I presented were correlated to the state’s Grade Level Expectations found in the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum for Science. Students were able to make observations of moon phases over a number of nights, sketch and describe the phases, and model moon phases and eclipses using Styrofoam moon balls. Other lessons focused on the Reasons for the Seasons activity found in the Planetarium Activities for Student Success (PASS) Volume 2. The students were able to predict sunrise locations for the equinoxes and solstices, crossings of the meridian, and sunset locations then were able to verify the actual paths. Earth science teacher, Daniel Porter, conducted modeling activities in the classroom with a portion of the class while activities were being conducted in the STARLAB. Many of the activities in the comprehensive curriculum for science make reference to using STARLAB to supplement specific Grade Level Expectations. _____________________ Science for Monks by Gary Kratzer Science for Monks mission is to provide hands-on science and mathematics education to advanced scholars within the Tibetan monastic community in India. Dr. Andy Johnson of the Center for the Advancement of Math and Science Education at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota, has been traveling to India since 2004 to teach physics to the Tibetan Buddhist Monks at these workshops. The workshops were initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama based on the twin ideas that Buddhism has much to offer the western world, and western science has much to offer Tibetan Buddhists. The workshops are supported by the Sager Family Foundation. Andy has used the Project STAR Diffraction Grating in his lessons on color and light. To stimulate thought and interest, he proposes the questions, “Does a piece of colored plastic change the color of light, or does it remove certain colors from light?And what evidence do you have for this?” Gathering evidence involves looking through the diffraction grating at a showcase bulb, and then holding red, green, and blue pieces of plastic in the line of sight, and observing what happens to the spectrum. They also use the diffraction grating to get a sense of what each filter does to the light. Andy tells us that the monks loved the lessons and added their own form of “debate.” It seems that their culture places value on the art of debating. Andy was very amused by the interesting perceptions of color the Buddhists adhere to. For more information about Science for Monks, visit www.scienceformonks.org or contact Dr. Andy Johnson, Center for Advancement of Math and Science Education, Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD 57799-9005, andyjohnson@bhsu.edu, phone, (605)-642-6508. |
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New Ideas Under the Dome: Hall of Fameby Gary KratzerOver the years we have featured many great ideas that help to make your STARLAB experiences even better. Here we are highlighting some of the best ideas from over the years. So whether you are a new user of STARLAB or a veteran user, we think these ideas from other users like you will be helpful. If you have any ideas for STARLAB that have helped you, let us know, gkratzer@rocketmail.com! Storing Cylinders Often a STARLAB user will remove a cylinder from the storage compartment in the projector case or cylinder storage case by placing one finger into the alignment hole in the base of the cylinder and pulling up on it. This constant pulling on the cylinder base could eventually cause it to come unglued. A simple solution is to keep the cylinder in the plastic bags as shipped from the factory and pull on the bag to lift the cylinder out. If you no longer have these bags, 9 gallon liner bags are just the right size. By pulling on the bag instead of the cylinder, you will put less stress on the cylinder thereby increasing its life. Cleaning the Dome Many of our customers have asked about a safe way to clean the STARLAB dome. A solution of 1 part Clorox Bleach to 10 parts warm water is perhaps the best formula. This same solution can be used to mop the entry tunnel as well. Some users have reported spraying Lysol Disinfectant to destroy bacteria and give the dome a clean smell. Other STARLAB users have used a swivel-head sweeper like the Swiffer™ to clean the dome. This mop-like tool is made to fasten pre-dampened cleaning sheets onto a flat pad. Once the cleaning sheet is in place, the dome can then be “mopped” clean. The handle of the mop is usually long enough to be able to reach the top of the dome. To lower the dome a bit, run the inflation fan on low. This handy tool can be found where cleaning products are sold. Cleaning Your Fan Motor It is said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is certainly the case when maintaining the operation of a piece of equipment. The STARLAB fan is an extremely durable device, but over time, it can be adversely affected by the cooling air that passes through the motor. If enough dust builds up on the copper coils inside of the fan’s electric motor, it can lead to a certain amount of overheating. Although the fan is equipped with a thermostatic cut-off switch that prevents overheating and damage to the electric motor, LTI recommends having a can of compressed air to periodically blow off the dust collected on the copper coils to increase the longevity of your fan. Patching the Dome If you have ever needed to patch a pinhole at the top of your dome but couldn’t quite figure out how to get to it, you’ll appreciate this advice. Station someone inside the dome with the patches while another person temporarily cuts off the fan. The dome will slowly drop to a position where the patch can be placed over the pinhole. We also recommend that you scrape the patch with a thumbnail to remove any trapped air under it. This technique will produce greater adherence to the dome. After the patches are in place, the fan can be turned back on to reinflate the dome. Please don’t use a ladder inside of the dome! This is very dangerous, especially under the low light conditions of STARLAB. |
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STARLAB Funding Finderby Ellen WeinerFunding Opportunities Motorola Foundation Announces New Innovation Generation Grant Program In 2007, the Motorola Foundation will provide $3.5 million in Innovation Generation grants to U.S. initiatives that inspire young people, particularly girls and underserved minorities, to embrace science, technology, engineering, and math. Funding will focus on initiatives that creatively generate a love of science early in life and show the new generation of inventors that careers involving science and math are important, challenging, and possible. Priority will be given to programs that can incorporate Motorola employees as volunteers. Any U.S. nonprofit organization may apply. Schools and school districts may apply when programs can be replicated easily in other locations. Priority funding will be given for programs that operate in communities where Motorola employees are located, especially Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Programs need to have measurable impact. Grant requests may range between $5,000 and $250,000. Grant requests may be for single- or multi-year support. Visit http://www.motorola.com/content.jsp?globalObjectId=8153 for grant guidelines NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education Accepting Applications for Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement Grants Programs The NEA Foundation for the Improvement of Education is accepting applications for its Learning & Leadership and Student Achievement Grants Programs. Learning & Leadership Grants provide opportunities for teachers, education support professionals, and higher education faculty and staff to engage in high-quality professional development and lead their colleagues in professional growth. The grant amount is $2,000 for individuals and $5,000 for groups engaged in collegial study. Student Achievement Grants provide $5,000 to improve the academic achievement of students by engaging in critical thinking and problem solving that deepen knowledge of standards-based subject matter. The work should also improve students’ habits of inquiry, self-directed learning, and critical reflection. (These grants replace the foundation’s Innovation Grants program, which has been discontinued.) Applicants for both programs must be practicing U.S. public school teachers in grades K-12, public school education support professionals, or faculty and staff at public institutions of higher education. Preference will be given to members of the National Education Association. The NEA Foundation encourages grant applications from teachers with less than seven years of experience in the profession and education support professionals. The deadline for both programs is June 1, 2007. Visit http://www.neafoundation.org/grants.htm for complete guidelines. General Mills Accepting Applications for Hamburger Helper’s My Hometown Helper Grant Program Through May 31, 2007 Calling all hometown helpers! Are you looking for funds to help spruce up your local park? Does your town fire department need funding to train new volunteers? If your hometown cause could use some financial support, Hamburger Helper is looking to lend a helping hand to neighborhoods nationwide with its My Hometown Helper grant program. Individuals from communities and organizations across America can visit www.myHometownHelper.com to submit a written essay of 250 words or less describing how the My Hometown Helper grant would help improve their community project. Applicants can request a one-time award between $500 and $15,000 during any single month. All requests for funding must be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or public school. The Hamburger Helper My Hometown Helper grant program will award the grants each month from online applications received through May 2007. Eligibility: All requests for funding must be sponsored by a municipal or civic organization or public school. Hamburger Helper will give funds directly to the public school or 501(c) (4) entity, such as civic leagues and social welfare organizations (see list of qualifying organizations below), that sponsors an application for funding. Visit www.myhometownhelper.com for more information. Ellen Weiner is the Grants Specialist for Learning Technologies. She is available for research on potential STARLAB funding sources and also for consultation on grant proposals. Ellen can be reached by e-mail at eweiner@starlab.com. (This is a free service from LTI.)
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Ask the Editorby Gary KratzerIs there a way to project a limited number of stars from the Starfield Cylinder? This is a great question! Student interest is typically so high in STARLAB that it is sometimes difficult for them to focus on a particular constellation or group of constellations. Perhaps the most well known activity that benefits from limited constellation projection is the PASS (Planetarium Activities for Student Success) lesson, Measuring the Brightness of Stars (Volume 2, Activity 8). In this lesson, students are asked to observe several constellations in close proximity to Orion, the Hunter. The students are challenged to classify each star by its apparent brightness. Well, that’s all fine and good but how do you block out the stars that are not relevant to the activity? Here’s how . . . Place a white 9-gallon trash bag over the Starfield Cylinder while it is on the cylinder platform of the projector. Turn up the projector to maximum brightness. You will notice that the stars can be seen through the bag, Use a marker to outline (on the bag) the constellations or part of the starfield you wish to project. After marking the selected area, take the bag off of the cylinder and cut out the area of the bag that you outlined. This area will become a “window” through which only the stars outlined will project onto the dome. Place the bag back on the cylinder when you are ready for the lesson. I have found this technique quite valuable when using other cylinders as well. For example, when using the Plate Tectonics Cylinder, I like to display the area where India is subducting under Asia and the resulting Himalayan Mountain chain. This simple blocking technique greatly reduces student curiosity for everything other than what you want them to focus on. |
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The Inside Scoop from LTISTARLAB Quick Quip "I taught outdoor education for a few years and we used the STARLAB for our astronomy class. It was the most successful program . . . every school wanted to do it. Whether someone is a first time participant or a chronic visitor (like myself, as the teacher), each time the light turns on, it takes your breath away . . ."— Deanna McIntyre, Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center, Olympia Fields, Illinois _____________________ New Cylinders Available for STARLAB!
This cylinder displays the four star groups that are used for navigation in Hawaiian astronomy. These "star lines" run north to south and are marked by bright stars and prominent constellations. _____________________
Meet Reed Varian, the New North American Sales Manager LTI is pleased to announce that the new position of North American Sales Manager (including Canada and Mexico) will be filled by Reed Varian, formerly the STARLAB sales representative for the Eastern states. For the past 15 years, Reed Varian has taken the STARLAB story to the far corners of 5 states and much of Canada. As a sales representative for Learning Technologies, he has helped many schools and other educational institutions bring the STARLAB experience to their students. Now Reed takes on a bigger challenge! As the newly appointed North American Sales Manager, he will coordinate sales efforts nationwide, working closely with the STARLAB sales team, and the home office. Reed will be assembling a team of “STARLAB Ambassadors” from all over the US, Canada and Mexico, harnessing the experience of the best STARLAB educators in the field to provide support services to STARLAB users and potential STARLAB educators (See details about the STARLAB Ambassador Program from Page 1). We are looking forward to working with Reed in this new capacity. His exuberance, his broad thinking about the planetarium market, and his knowledge of and in-depth experience with STARLAB put him in a terrific position for his newly expanded role. Reed can be contacted by email at rvarian@starlab.com or by phone at 800 704-4338. _____________________ Hands-On Optics: A New Model for Informal Science Education, Coming Soon from LTI Hands-On Optics (HOO) is a unique, national, inquiry-based informal science education program for students who have traditionally been under-represented in the field of optics and photonics. It is built around six learning modules, each of which features a series of 8 to 12 fun and challenging activities designed to get students interested in science, math, and technology through optics and photonics. Although the program is targeted to middle-school where students’ long-term attitudes about science and engineering are formed, program elements are adaptable and can be used successfully with students as early as 4th grade and throughout high school. HOO was started through a grant from the National Science Foundation and is operated today through a partnership including OSA, SPIE and NOAO. For more information on Hands-on Optics, see their web site: http://www.hands-on-optics.org/home/. These kits will soon be available from Learning Technologies. Please check back at www.starlab.com for pricing and availability. |
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The Digital Dish: The Latest News on the Digital STARLABDon't Miss the First Annual Digital STARLAB Institute! Learning Technologies, Inc. in partnership with E & S Spitz, invites you to join us for our first ever Digital STARLAB Institute to be held in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania on July 16–20, 2007. This five-day institute will explore diverse astronomy education techniques using digital technology and tools. Courses will cover a broad range of digital planetarium topics from basic techniques and terminology to advanced lesson creation with Starry Night™ software. While attending you can also experience the attractions of the historic Brandywine River Valley. Click for more details and/or to download a flyer and registration form. Hurry! Space is limited and payment must be received by May 31, 2007 — first come, first served.
Additional Resources for Digital STARLAB
Spotlight on Some New Digital STARLAB Owners! Wedgeworth School Youth Science Center, Hacienda Heights, California The Youth Science Center's new Digital STARLAB will be used for programs given to public and private schools and to scout groups in the San Gabriel Valley on a funded or school-paid basis. Last year they gave 87 STARLAB programs (using a 12-year-old analog STARLAB system) for grades K through 8. They also plan to use the Digital STARLAB in conjunction with evening star parties. University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska Dr. Robert Herrick plans to use his new Digital STARLAB for his Planetary Science classes as well as for a new outreach program where it will be flown to bush schools in Alaska. Herrick also plans to create a program on Alaska which he hopes to premier at the Western Alliance Conference. Are you a new Digital STARLAB owner? Let us know your story, how and for whom you are putting it to use. To share your news, tips, photos etc., contact Gary Kratzer at gkratzer@rocketmail.com. |
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The Project STAR Corner |
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Touch the Stars, Revised Edition (TOUCH) by Noreen Grice [A note from Gary Kratzer . . . This sounds like a great resource for visually-impaired students to use in conjunction with STARLAB. In fact, one of our schools is going to work with this and a few NASA publications with one of their blind students while using STARLAB.] This newly revised edition of Touch the Stars written by Noreen Grice, an astronomer at Boston's Museum of Science and president of You Can Do Astronomy™, is an astronomy book created specifically for visually impaired stargazers. Nineteen new, carefully-rendered tactile illustrations by Shirley Keller & Irma Goldberg of Creative Adaptations for Learning bring the excitement of the constellations, comets, meteor showers, and nebulae down to earth and onto the page. Seemingly visual concepts like solar and lunar eclipses become tangible through text and touch. Find out what the constellation Orion looks like, how the moon waxes and wanes, and just what happens during a lunar or solar eclipse. Discover the rings of Saturn and Jupiter's Great Red Spot. This handsome hardcover edition tells you all of the fascinating facts about how stars are formed and the patterns they make in the sky. Includes a print facsimile of the tactile illustrations for sighted readers. Available from National Braille Press: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/TOUCH.html Similar Books:
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Planet Positions & Moon Phases
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| We have pdf versions of STARLAB News back issues from Winter 1995 to Fall 2005 (see archives). Issues prior to XII, Winter 1995 are not available as a pdf. Please contact LTI directly for availability. |
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