\n');

Space Science

The Space Science Workshop, as a development of a new ICT learning model

Lawrence Williams

The Background

This was my plan for the Workshop, as posted on the MirandaNet site, Institute of Education, London University, Autumn Term, 2000:
www.mirandanet.ac.uk/pubs/williams.htm

For information on the background to the Workshop, see
www.mirandanet.ac.uk/profiles/nasa.htm

For a direct link to the NASA Glenn Learning Technologies Project web site, see:
http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/CoE/videoconferences_to_the_uk.htm

A New Learning Model

Integrating aspects of the Holy Cross and NASA curriculum models

Working on photos of Mars

The Holy Cross Model

Until now, at Holy Cross we have deliberately shunned using the web, because of its static nature, and have instead used the new ICT tools to develop dynamic projects centred mainly on the creation of Expressive Arts events. Using video-conferencing equipment running over ISDN 2 telephone lines, these have included shared music workshops with the LSO and Japan Philharmonic Orchestras, the "Kabuki Gift" drama, which was performed simultaneously by school students in London and in Osaka, as well as a scientific exchange with NASA scientists.

As indicated in my "Poskole 2000" paper (Charles University, Prague), at Holy Cross we are trying to develop the integration of the new ICT tools for learning, so that each tool is used not only to its maximum individual potential, but at the same time in harmony with other tools.

In this way, we hope to see how best to use the new ICT tools in harmony with each other, and within a creative framework.

The NASA Model

A view of Joe at NASA from Bristol

The NASA model works through the development of pre- and post-conference activities, using the web as an electronic library where relevant and useful scientific information is stored and can be researched by the students. They can also communicate with NASA team members through email, and share ideas through the video-conference.

The presentation styles involve either Topic Guest Speakers who share their expertise with the students, or the Panels of Experts, who can share their thoughts both with the students and with each other, during the course of the conference.

The results of the conferences are monitored and evaluated through the web.

Integrating these two Models

The next logical step, therefore, in working with the new ICT tools is to develop a working model, which brings about the further integration of these tools by blending the above models into one. The static nature of the Web and the dynamic nature of the other tools can thus come together creatively.

How this will work:

The Bristol "Science, Creativity and the Young Mind" Project Workshop is an example. During the week beginning July 22^nd 2001, ten groups, each consisting of three English and three Japanese students (a total of sixty students, aged 16 plus), will be set a problem at the beginning of the week. Working, in most cases, with the academic staff at Bristol University as mentors, the students will work together to solve "Real World" problems, presenting their findings and solutions to the whole group on the Friday.

Lawrence intoducing the NASA link to the Workshop

The web will be used as the resource for information, which one group of students, "The NASA Group" will access before the Workshop and video-conference begins.
On the first day of the Workshop (Monday, 9.15 am US time, and 2.15 pm UK time) the six students of the NASA Group (3 from Japan and 3 from the UK) are then set their task by NASA through the first video-conference. This is to ensure that they clearly understand the nature of the problem, which has been set. (Use of video-conferencing equipment)
During the week, in the same way that the other groups of students have access to the academic staff at Bristol University, the NASA group will have access to tutorial help through email and fax with the NASA panel of experts. (Use of email and attachments)
Short digitised video-clips of work in progress will also be sent back to Ohio for comment by the NASA scientists (Use of digital camera and email)
The overhead document camera can also be used to show diagrams and sketches of the students' solutions (Use of document camera)
On the Thursday, before other groups present their findings to their peers and tutors in Bristol, the NASA Group will also present their work through a final video-conference to their tutors in Cleveland. (Use of video-conferencing kit again)
Finally, the email messages, the evaluations and video clips of the various presentations will then be uploaded onto the NASA web site, so that the process can be continued and developed. (Further use of the web)

This creates a graceful cycle of ICT use, starting and ending with the web.

In this way, the ICT tools used are all essential to the success of the project, and are used in harmony with each other, but the web site itself is also developed, and therefore becomes dynamic rather than static, as new ideas are added through similar future projects.

We firmly believe that this interaction between the new ICT tools is the way forward for education in the Information Age, a vision that is shared by our colleagues at NASA.

Contact address
Lawrence Williams
Director of Studies / Assistant Head Teacher
The Holy Cross School
65 Westbury Road
New Malden
Surrey, UK
KT3 5AN

Email: Lawrencehx@aol.com

Lawrence driving a videoconference with Joe at NASA

Evaluation

I am delighted to report that the Workshop exceeded my highest expectations. Through the expertise of the team assembled to support this project by Dr Eric Albone, the Space Science Workshop was outstanding in all its aspirations. Supporting this Workshop were Professor Steve Sparks, Fellow of the Royal Society, who gave a useful introduction to the group about the basics of plate tectonics, and further supported us with tutorial visits. The students felt honoured by his occasional visits. Throughout the week Dr. Carsten Riedel, (got your name right!) and Stuart Stansfield, both part of Professor Sparks' team, excelled themselves as inspirational teachers, working with the students from 9.00 am through to 5.00 pm with coffee and lunch breaks pared to the minimum by the students themselves, who wanted to develop their ideas to the full. I have a JPEG photo of the group working long after a coffee break was called! Carsten and Stu were the driving force behind the scientific work of the group, challenging them and encouraging them with outstanding professionalism. I have assessed many teachers during my many years as a senior manager, but I willingly assert that these two members of the team were truly outstanding in their expertise, their enthusiasm, and their encouragement of the students.

From the NASA end, Dr. Joe Kolecki provide daily tutorial support video-conference, and, again, was an inspiration to the group. This is a comment, which I made to him by email:

Dear Joe,

One of the aims of the Workshops, here at Bristol University, was to give a combined group of sixty young people, from across Japan and from the United Kingdom, a new view of themselves as potential scientists, and an ambition to succeed at the highest level. I am struggling to find words to express our gratitude to you and your team for your help in this venture.

Stuart hard at work

Our particular group, in Space Science, at the Department of Earth Sciences, has had the most wonderful week, and I truly believe that the students' lives have been transformed by it. You have some evidence of this already in the email that we sent just after the final presentation session.

The support you have given, the personal words of encouragement, and that rare combination of warmth and professional rigour which we now see as the hallmark of you and your team, have given these youngsters a new sense of confidence and pride, both in themselves and in their achievements. You will have felt this as the conferences unfolded. I am grateful to you for lending us the legendary NASA name, proud of what we have achieved together, and joyful at the success of the students. "Thank you" does not even come close to it.

Today, Friday, our group has a public presentation to give, to the other nine groups and to many visitors, using PowerPoint, and will later word-process a full written Report, which of course we will send you.

Eric (Albone) and I have only recently joined forces, and would both be delighted to work with you on future projects: we are hoping that this is just the beginning of many exciting ways of using the new technologies to advance the cause of science education, and to inspire young people.

I believe that during this week we have together taken another useful step.

With our warmest regards and thanks,

Lawrence

His reply to me says it all:

Subj:    Re: Thanks from us all
Date:    7/27/01 5:18:47 PM GMT Daylight Time
From:    Joseph.C.Kolecki@grc.nasa.gov (Joseph C Kolecki)
To:      LAWRENCEHX@aol.com
CC:      Ruth.A.Petersen@grc.nasa.gov (Ruth A Petersen),
         Roshanak.Hakimzadeh@grc.nasa.gov,
         Valerie.J.Lyons@grc.nasa.gov,
         Kathleen.A.Zona@grc.nasa.gov (Kathleen.A Zona),
         John.K.Lytle@grc.nasa.gov

Dear Lawrence,

Your kind words, and the transformation we all saw in the members of our
group says everything! We are proud to have been asked to join forces with
you. All of you at Bristol have achieved a landmark in education! May its
effects be felt everywhere!!

Yes to further involvement with you - by all means, YES!!!

Joe

Among other successes, socially, culturally, and in uniting the academic communities of three continents, this has been a landmark in the development of the integration of ICT for learning, and I warmly thank all of the team for this.

Lawrence Williams

Web links:

Becta's site for the NASA link with Holy Cross:
http://top.ngfl.gov.uk/content.php3?content=content/fw981651524.html&f=0

And the Becta / Holy Cross Drama Report:
http://top.ngfl.gov.uk/content.php3?content=content/b970760668.html&f=0