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IC4NS SCHOOL INITIATIVE PHASE 1 & 2

Introduce your children (8 yrs+) to astronomy and astrophysics using actual laboratory telescopes positioned around the world!  Schedule missions to see a galaxy, nebula, planet, star, etc., then download the pictures to your computer to put into your workbook to find out more about what you saw and to write up what you learned.  Kids of all ages LOVE it.


Document
SLOOH - VOL 2
IC4NS Educational Initiative - Phase 1

Last October ' 08, IC4NS announced an Educational Initiative to focus on improving Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) and Social Science (SS) skills.  By the end of February ' 09, four area schools have agreed to participate in Phase 1 (inside-the-classroom) of IC4NS's Educational Initiative to use Data Literacy to increase math proficiency and grow careers in STEM & SS. To meet these twin objectives, twenty-five copies of InspireData along with resource materials and on-line training along with five copies of Kidspiration were provided to Marple-Newtown School District (MNSD) and the Delaware County Christian School (DCCS). Also, five copies of InspireData were provided to St. Anastasia (St. Annies). Two mini-initiatives were also piloted at St. Annies. They include providing five copies of Kidspiration that focused on a visual approach to building strong thinking, reading and writing skills in addition to math skills along with 8 copies of SLOOH software vol 1 and/or 2 to introduce students to Astronomy and Astrophysics. Five copies of Kidspiration were also provided to Don Guanella via the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. In the case of Don Guanella, it is believed that this highly visual and hands-on approach to learning will provide special needs students with yet another venue for learning the 3 R's. 

School Year 2008 – 2009:  Total Grants: Approx $2800
St. Anastasia School                            $110 InspireData     $300 Kidspiration     SLOOH $200
Marple Newtown School District             $800 InspireData     $300 Kidspiration     SLOOH $0        
Delaware County Christian School          $800 InspireData     $0                           $0
Don Guanella - Special Needs School     $0                          $300 Kidspiration     $0
(Delaware County Intermediate Unit)


Based on information provided at a Lessons Learned meeting on July 22, 2009 among IC4NS, Marple Newtown School District (MNSD), St. Annastasia, and the Delaware County Christian School (DCCS) and discussions thereafter, two of the schools have decided to expand their programs to included Vernier monitoring/analylsis harware and software for STEM laboratory investigations.  The initiative at DCCS is on hold until the move of the elementary school from Newtown Square to Devon is completed physically and consistent with operational objectives.  And, the feasibility of implementation at the Don Guanella school is still under review. 

ST. ANASTASIA SCHOOL

This school year we provided St. Anastasia School a grant of approximately $1200.00 worth of Vernier Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) laboratory equipment along with associated Middle School, Elementary School, and Environmental lab books, and associated monitoring/analysis software.  These devices and probes work in conjunction with the InspireData software awarded the school last year.  The grant will enable approximately 30 teachers and staff to more fully participate in experiments with real time data and to have the capability to do more complex and authentic experiments while still geared to the grade school environment.  Moreover, approximately 650 students of St. Anastasia School will be able to perform more significant and meaningful investigations in STEM subjects and Social Science (SS).  Also Contained in the award are 4 additional copies of SLOOH software to continue introducing the students to Astronomy and Astrophysics at the grade school level.  In addition, to further assist the teachers with ways to use the visual reading and writing portions of the Kidspiration Software awarded last year, we provided 3 reference books demonstrating graphic organizers specific to reading and writing lessons for grades 1-8. See the attachments for a breakdown of these items and their compatibility.


MARPLE NEWTOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT
This school year we are building upon the feedback from the "Lessons Learned" meeting and especially MNSD's history with and future expanded use of Vernier products.  IC4NS and MNSD have collaborated on the monitoring devices needed to satisfy both MNSD and IC4NS goals.  To this end, IC4NS presented MNSD with a check for $1200.00 to be used to provide additional Vernier STEM equipment to supplement their $6000 Tiger Grant.  The combination of these grants will enable 18 teachers at the high school and 12 teachers at the middle school to more fully participate in experiments with real time data and to have the capability to do more complex and authentic experiments.  Moreover, approximately 2400 students of the Marple Newtown School District will also be able to perform more significant and meaningful investigations in Science. Vernier also has monitoring/analysis software - Lab Pro 3 - for which a schoolwide site license is granted for buying a single $189 copy of the software that can be used across STEM subjects and be installed on a student's home computer.  This means every student, teacher, teacher aide, IT personnel, etc. can have a copy of the software on their computers in school and at home! 

School Year 2009 - 2010:  Total Grants: Approx $2800
St. Anastasia School                        $1085 Vernier HW/SW     $70 SLOOH     $40 R & W Reference Books
                                                       $550   Kidspiration  (Pending)
Marple Newtown School District         $1200 Vernier HW/SW


IC4NS Educational Initiative - Phase 2

We are also planning to begin Phase 2 (outside-the-classroom) of the Initiative through field trips ("Leaf Pack"program) for the Spring and/or Fall of 2010 in conjunction with the Stroud Water Research Center (SWRC) and some of our schools.  Please view the SWRC 8 minute video on the web site page provided in the above link.  This applies what is learned in the classroom and laboratory to the field then back to the laboratory (or classroom) for analyzing, documenting, reporting, and presenting the findings.  This phase concentrates on building teamwork, collaboration, and learning from experts who work or have worked in STEM & SS careers.
 
As a plus, President Obama has already toured the Vernier facility and is highly supportive of their products and uses the company as example of what he is looking for to help improve performance in math and sicence and guide students toward STEM careers.  And, Vernier touts InspireData on their web site as a recommended adjunct to their programs and product line!  Thus, alignment is assured between Inspiration, Inc's. InspireData and Logger Pro 3 or Graphic Analysis 3 software.

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