Canadian Association of Physicists (CAP)
Association canadienne des Physiciens et Physiciennes (ACP)
Carol A. CHRISTIAN
Space Telescope Science Institute
Putting Research Science and Education Together: Lessons Learned from HST
Incorporating current research results into educational resources that adhere to appropriate standards and uphold pedagogy can enhance learning, yet success at crafting usable materials for pre-college education and informal science represents a significant challenge. Within the Hubble Space Telescope project, we developed a successful model for research scientists to participate in educational content creation by creating teams with teachers, graphic artists, writers and multi-media Web developers. We created multi-media resources designed to improve science and mathematics skills in students and improve public perception of science. A systematic production cycle including specification, project definition, frequent reviews and several testing periods resulted in robust but flexible resources for curriculum support materials, a traveling museum exhibit, press releases and a website for the public.