WebScopes in the Classroom Workshop

Astronomy Workshop for Teachers Grades 7-12
Workshop is FREE
June 19-21, 2008

We invite you to join us for a three-day workshop, during which time you will be taught how to use robotic telescopes in your classroom to teach Arkansas Science Standards.  We will provide housing and lunches (dinners on your own) as well as the needed computers, books, software, and internet access to our robotic telescopes, all at no cost.  In addition, you will be paid a personal stipend of $180 for your participation in our workshop.

The WebScopes workshop is intended for teachers who want to learn more about observational astronomy using robotic observing techniques.  You will learn the basic concepts about how the sky works as well as the principles of digital imaging and image analysis.  No specific science background is needed, just the willingness to work with others in a learning environment and a commitment to bring what you learn back to your school.  The program includes 25 contact hours during the workshop.  WebScopes is designed to help teachers reach the goals of the Arkansas Science Standards for these grades.  The Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences will work with your school district to obtain development credit for participation in this workshop.

The workshop will be led by Dr. Claud H. Sandberg Lacy, an astronomer and educator who teaches at the University of Arkansas.  Dr. Lacy has developed the use of robotic observing techniques as a tool for use in the classroom.  He has helped build robotic WebScopes in Fayetteville, Arkansas, (the URSA WebScope) and in Silver City, New Mexico (the NFO WebScope).  These WebScopes are regularly used by over 500 students per year who do mini-research projects as a regular part of their class work.  You will work through several of these projects during the workshop.

The workshop will meet Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, June 19-21, in Fayetteville at the University of Arkansas from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and accommodations will be provided Wednesday night through Saturday night.  The workshop will be held in the Science & Engineering Building, Room 112, on the Fayetteville Campus.  We will support 6 participants in our workshop.  Housing and lunches will be provided (dinners on your own).
All participating teachers will receive books, software, and a subscription to Sky & Telescope magazine.

For a photo of the WebScopes in the Classroom 2006 participants, please click here.

For a photo of the WebScopes in the Classroom 2007 participants, please click here.

For a printable registration form for WebScopes 2008, please click here.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions:

Jessica Park, Programs Administrator
Arkansas Center for Space and Planetary Sciences
University of Arkansas
202 Old Museum Building
Fayetteville, AR  72701
Phone:  479.575.7625
Fax:  479.575.7778
email:  csaps@uark.edu