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Expectations
The purpose of the program is to develop hands-on skills in astronomy,
gain new content knowledge about astronomy and related sciences, to
learn about assessment and to participate in the research process. Part
of these goals are met by developing a collegial atmosphere where outside
of the formal activities, discussions lead to ideas, collaborations
and new activities. For this reason, we require that all participants
board with the group, and participate fully in all of the activities.
In addition, for the teachers, we require that you take some part of TOPS
to try to implement in your classroom, and that you document this. We
will help with this through follow-up workshops, online resources and
other fun activities and gatherings (sometimes by video or at the summer
PREL meetings for the Pacific Affiliates). Participation in TOPS is
therefore more than just a 3 week summer commitment for the teachers.
We require that you are an active teacher (or actively involved in the
educational process), and that you will be continuing this after TOPS.
We also strongly encourage that previous TOPS teachers participate in
the program for several years to build up necessary skills.
- Eligibility - The program is targeted at teachers in Hawaii
and the 9 US-affiliated Pacific Entities (American Samoa, Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei, Yap, Guam,
Republic of the Marshall Islands, Republic of Palau). Our target goal
is to accept roughly 2/3 of the teacher from Hawaii and 1/3 from the
Pacific affiliates, in proportion to their relative populations. We
may accept limited participants from other areas on a case by case
basis. The student component will be exclusively from Hawaii and the
Pacific affiliates. Please note: students must be 16 years of age at
the time of the workshop to participate.
- Costs - The only cost associated with the workshop is a fee
of $50 which will be used to (1) guarantee your spot in the program,
and (2) to cover a few expenses that we cannot put on the federal
funding. This fee need only be paid after you have been
accepted to the program (see the application forms page to apply).
- Stipends - The participating teachers will receive a stipend
of $60 per day during the program. This will be payable in 2
allotments - half after the successful completion of the summer
workshop, and half after implementation of classroom activities and
participation in workshop followup.
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