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<big>'''Wiki for the NASA IPAC Teacher Archive Research Project (NITARP) [used to be the Spitzer Teachers Research Project]'''</big>
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<big>'''Wiki for the NASA IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP)'''</big>
  
= What is the NASA IPAC Teacher Archive Research Project (NITARP)?=
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= What is the NASA IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP)?=
The [http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/ Spitzer Science Center (SSC)] and the [http://www.ipac.caltech.edu/ NASA Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)] (with help from the [http://www.noao.edu/ National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO)]) are providing teachers and students with authentic science experiences using archival data from the [http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/ Spitzer Space Telescope], the [http://nedwww.ipac.caltech.edu/ NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED)], the [http://nsted.ipac.caltech.edu/ NASA/IPAC/NExScI Star and Exoplanet Database (NStED)], the [http://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/ NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (IRSA)] and other NASA archive holdings. This program has as its goals the fundamental NASA goals of inspiring and motivating students to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics as well as to engage the public in shaping and sharing the experience of exploration and discovery. Our educational plan addresses the NASA objectives of improving student proficiency in science and improving science instruction by providing a unique opportunity for groups of teachers and students (with the help of a mentor astronomer) to work with professional astronomical archival data.  The research team completes the data analysis, and presents their findings to others throughout the scientific community. [http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_classroom/teacher_research/index.shtml Read more about us on the Cool Cosmos website.]  Or, [[What is this project?| keep reading about the goals and other background information we've collected here.]]  This project used to be named the Spitzer Research Program for Teachers & Students; in mid-2009, the source of funding changed, so the project changed a little, and is now known as NITARP.  Some parts of this wiki may not have been updated yet to reflect this (recent) change.
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[https://nitarp.ipac.caltech.edu NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program], gets teachers involved in authentic astronomical research. We partner small groups of largely high school educators with a mentor professional astronomer for an original research project. NITARP (combined with its predecessor, the Spitzer Teacher Program) has been running since 2005.
  
<big>'''''The deadline has passed.'''''</big> NITARP is now reviewing all of the submitted teacher applications for a program to start in 2010.  Check back here in Summer 2010 for applications for a program to start in 2011. 
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= What and Who this Wiki is for =
  
= What and Who is this Wiki for? =
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This wiki has now been commandeered to be a place for us to '''collect bits and pieces of lessons that might be useful to NITARP alumni or other educators''' (grade 7 through college). It used to be a dynamic environment for NITARP participants to work, and as such, there may very well be pages here that are .. less than polished. We have tried to isolate those pages where possible. And, for sure, there are old pages from the prior incarnation of this site that may turn up during searches but that may not be relevant any longer.
  
This wiki is a dynamic environment for the NITARP participants ('''teachers, scientists, and students''') to interact as their research projects evolve over time.  All participants are asked to share, and continue to develop materials based on their experiences with this program.  We ask that if you make a contribution to the Wiki (especially on the discussion pages) that you PLEASE cite the source of your information and/or provide your name within the wiki (when editing, click on the button that has signature+timestamp to finish off your comment) in the event others have questions.
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We encourage you to think critically about the information that is here, and ask for help or clarification if you need it.
  
'''IMPORTANT NOTE:''' Since these projects and web pages are designed to evolve and change over time through the contributions of many different learners (including students, teachers, and scientists), you may from time to time find some information that is not 100% accurate.  This of course is part of the learning process we hope to foster.  We encourage you to think critically about the information that is here, and ask for help or clarification if you need it.
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[[What this site is not]]
  
Also see [[What is this project?]] for more information.
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[[Guide to NITARP participants for use of the wiki]].
  
'''Anyone can view these pages, but if participants of NITARP would like to edit them or make additional contributions, please email Dr. Luisa Rebull at rebull - at - ipac.caltech.edu to get an account set up.'''  Please see the "help" page (link on the menu bar on the left) for general introductory information as it pertains to editing and interactions on the wiki.)
 
  
=[[What is infrared light?]]=
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= How to use this Wiki =
A very general introduction to infrared astronomy, with links to go to for more information.  Note that this wiki is not designed to replace a basic astronomy textbook for general introduction to astronomy information.  We're assuming that you've already gotten that information elsewhere.
 
  
=[[How does the Spitzer Telescope work?]]=
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I suspect everyone agrees that Legos are awesome. You can build nearly anything with them. You can get a set, build it according to the instructions, and then take it apart and build something wildly different than the designer intended with those very same Legos.
A very general introduction to the Spitzer Space Telescope, with links to go to for more information.
 
  
=[[What other kinds of archival data are part of NITARP?]]=
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That's what this site is designed to be -- a pile of Lego bricks. We have some components that are more like single Lego bricks, and some that are more like Lego pieces extremely customized to a single purpose. And, some of the individual constituents are more .. piles of melted plastic and not yet actually a Lego brick. We have provided in some cases ideas for how they can be put together to do something, and we plan more. You may see how something could come together that we did not envision!
A general introduction to all of the archives housed at IPAC.
 
  
=[[Research Tools]]=
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[[file:legopile.jpg|center|500px]]  
How to get started, software, tutorials, overviews, and more.
 
  
=[[Current Research Projects]]=
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There are four main categories of resources on this site:
'''Students, teachers, and scientists''' throughout the US are working together on a wide variety of Spitzer research projects.  Currently they include a variety of projects ranging from the hunt for young stars in IC 2118, to exploring the supermassive black hole in Arp102B.
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* [[Background/general reference]] (e.g., units, central wavelengths, magnitudes)
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* [[Skill development]] (e.g., using IRSA tools)
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* [[Science background]] (e.g., about young stars)
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* [[Coherent ideas of what to do with these pieces]] (might be called "lesson plans")
  
=[[Future Research Project Ideas]]=
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Within each of these broad topics are smaller, well, "Lego brick" topics. Within each of these topics, the most polished stuff is at the top of the page, and the least polished stuff is at the bottom.  
Here is a place to explore future research project ideas.
 
  
=[[Misc. Lesson Plans, Activities, and Useful Websites]]=
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Note that this wiki is not designed to replace a basic astronomy textbook for general introduction to astronomy information.  We're assuming that you've already gotten that information elsewhere. [https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy Here] is a good, free, online one if you need a textbook.
Please feel free to contribute.  We do ask that you include your wiki signature (click on the username/date stamp button in the edit window) when submitting lesson plans and activities. This will help users of the site in the event they have questions.  Also, when posting a website, please provide a brief description of the site along with the web link.
 
  
=[[Wiki Development Plans]]=
 
  
Stuff we're still working on re-organizing or writing ab initio.
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=Big open questions=
  
= Leftover "Getting started on the wiki" stuff (including manuals for how to edit files) =
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Yes, we are in the middle of a massive reorganization. Please bear with us.
  
Consult the [http://meta.wikipedia.org/wiki/MediaWiki_User%27s_Guide User's Guide] for tons of information on using '''(including editing files with)''' the wiki software.  [[Playground]] to experiment with formatting.
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Categories : once we pick nomenclature, can tag them as belonging to the various "lego blocks" or whatever. can tag all of the recently edited ones differently than the mass of old ones?? https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Categories
  
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Configuration_settings Configuration settings list]
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What to do with all the old, dead pages? originally it was not clear to me that we can/should delete all of them. BUT they still came up when you search on the wiki, so i deleted most of them. if there are new ones you find that need deletion, let me know.
* [http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:FAQ MediaWiki FAQ]
 
* [http://mail.wikipedia.org/mailman/listinfo/mediawiki-announce MediaWiki release mailing list]
 

Latest revision as of 02:36, 12 August 2020

Wiki for the NASA IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP)

What is the NASA IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program (NITARP)?

NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, gets teachers involved in authentic astronomical research. We partner small groups of largely high school educators with a mentor professional astronomer for an original research project. NITARP (combined with its predecessor, the Spitzer Teacher Program) has been running since 2005.

What and Who this Wiki is for

This wiki has now been commandeered to be a place for us to collect bits and pieces of lessons that might be useful to NITARP alumni or other educators (grade 7 through college). It used to be a dynamic environment for NITARP participants to work, and as such, there may very well be pages here that are .. less than polished. We have tried to isolate those pages where possible. And, for sure, there are old pages from the prior incarnation of this site that may turn up during searches but that may not be relevant any longer.

We encourage you to think critically about the information that is here, and ask for help or clarification if you need it.

What this site is not

Guide to NITARP participants for use of the wiki.


How to use this Wiki

I suspect everyone agrees that Legos are awesome. You can build nearly anything with them. You can get a set, build it according to the instructions, and then take it apart and build something wildly different than the designer intended with those very same Legos.

That's what this site is designed to be -- a pile of Lego bricks. We have some components that are more like single Lego bricks, and some that are more like Lego pieces extremely customized to a single purpose. And, some of the individual constituents are more .. piles of melted plastic and not yet actually a Lego brick. We have provided in some cases ideas for how they can be put together to do something, and we plan more. You may see how something could come together that we did not envision!

Legopile.jpg

There are four main categories of resources on this site:

Within each of these broad topics are smaller, well, "Lego brick" topics. Within each of these topics, the most polished stuff is at the top of the page, and the least polished stuff is at the bottom.

Note that this wiki is not designed to replace a basic astronomy textbook for general introduction to astronomy information. We're assuming that you've already gotten that information elsewhere. Here is a good, free, online one if you need a textbook.


Big open questions

Yes, we are in the middle of a massive reorganization. Please bear with us.

Categories : once we pick nomenclature, can tag them as belonging to the various "lego blocks" or whatever. can tag all of the recently edited ones differently than the mass of old ones?? https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Help:Categories

What to do with all the old, dead pages? originally it was not clear to me that we can/should delete all of them. BUT they still came up when you search on the wiki, so i deleted most of them. if there are new ones you find that need deletion, let me know.