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Using Videoconferencing for Elementary/Secondary Teacher Professional Development

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2011

Mary Kay Hemenway ,
Marc Wetzel ,
Magdalena Rood ,
Cynthia Roberts-Gray  and
Sandra Preston
Mary Kay Hemenway
Affiliation:
Astronomy Department, University of Texas1 University Station C1400Austin, TX 78712, USA email: marykay@astro.as.utexas.edu
Marc Wetzel
Affiliation:
McDonald Observatory, University of TexasFrank N. Bash Visitors Center, Fort Davis, TX 79734, USA email: Wetzel@astro.as.utexas.edu
Magdalena Rood
Affiliation:
Third Coast Research and Development1108 S. First StAustin, TX 78704USA email: mrood@thirdcoastresearch.com, CindyRobertsH@aol.com
Cynthia Roberts-Gray
Affiliation:
Third Coast Research and Development1108 S. First StAustin, TX 78704USA email: mrood@thirdcoastresearch.com, CindyRobertsH@aol.com
Sandra Preston
Affiliation:
McDonald Observatory, University of Texas1 University Station C1402Austin, TX 78712, USA email: sandi@astro.as.utexas.edu
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Abstract

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Working within a large geographic area, McDonald Observatory lacks the resources to send staff to present professional development workshops to teachers – and only limited numbers of teachers have the resources to attend workshops at our observatory. Our solution is the development of a new program to bring the workshop to teachers in their own communities through videoconferencing. Each workshop location has a co-facilitator who prepared for his/her duties through an orientation/training session held at McDonald Observatory. At the observatory, they experienced a variety of activities and selected the ones most suitable for the grade-levels of the teachers in their region; they recruit the teachers for the local workshop. Each videoconference session includes pre/post assessment of the participants, an interactive videoconference with an expert presenter, and assistance from the co-facilitator who manages the materials and assists with the activities. Through use of this technology, we expect to reach 500 teachers. An independent evaluator is preparing formative and summative evaluation for the project.

Keywords

evaluationprofessional developmentvideoconference
Type
Contributed Papers
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 5 , Symposium S260: The Role of Astronomy in Society and Culture , January 2009 , pp. 763 - 766
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2011

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