Prior to 1993. The Astronomical Society of the
Pacific engages in planning and development of the
Project ASTRO proposal, building on the ASP's ongoing
experience with conducting teacher workshops, with
developing materials, and with working with amateur and
professional astronomers.
January 1993. ASP receives a $600,000 National
Science Foundation grant for Project ASTRO Pilot Project.
It is ASP's first federal grant.
Jan.-July 1993. Planning and Study Phase: ASP
identifies strategies; recruits and selects participants;
develops prototype materials; and develops workshop.
Summer 1993. ASP conducts two Project ASTRO
workshops as 2 1/2- day retreats; one in San Francisco,
and one in the Los Angeles area.
1993/1994 Program Phase. ASP arranges for
astronomer/teacher visits; evaluation and case studies;
materials revision; and follow-up workshops in San
Francisco and Los Angeles.
Summer 1994. ASP continues its development of The
Universe at Your Fingertips and conducts a
mini-workshop for continuing and new participants (in the
first cohort) in San Francisco and Los Angeles.
December 1994. First summative evaluation of
pilot project in Northern and Southern California
completed and serves as a guide for writing the How-To
Manual.
1994/1995. ASP produces The Universe at Your
Fingertips and conducts evaluation, recruitment, and
selection of a new group of teachers and astronomers. ASP
submits expansion sites proposal to NSF.
Summer 1995. ASP conducts a workshop for the
second cohort of teacher-astonomer partnerships in San
Francisco only and develops and produces the Project
ASTRO How-To Manual
Fall 1995. Evaluation and materials development
completed. School year begins for all current ASTRO
participants. ASTRO staff continues dissemination of
information about the project.
January 1996. ASTRO receives $1.3M NSF grant to
expand Project ASTRO to 6-10 sites around the U.S. over
three years.
1996. ASTRO staff selects first two expansion
sites (Adler Planetarium in Chicago and the National
Optical Astronomy Observatories in Tucson) and conducts
workshops in summer and fall. The 12-minute Project ASTRO
video, "Partners in Learning," is produced with
support from the National Aeronatutics and Space
Administration. Project ASTRO activities are continued
with current and new participants in the San Francisco
Bay Area.
January 1997. ASTRO staff selects three new
expansion sites, with workshops to be held during summer
of 1997.
