posted by James at 5:20 AM

 

MHO Team:

Fundamental information regarding NSF Grant 2004 as discussed at the November 3, 2004 Board of Directors Meeting.

More can be found at the NSF Grant 2004 blog-site http://www.nsfgrant2004.blogspot.com

Jim,

If we are serious about submitting the Informal Science Education grant to NSF, we have to rally the troops. The Letter of Intent that is due on Friday is not just a letter letting NSF know we are interested in applying. It is a miniature version of the full proposal. The letter of intent gives the NSF a sneak preview and then they let us know whether they are interested in receiving a full proposal. So between now and Thursday we have a tremendous amount of work to do. Bloggers need to start putting their ideas down, starting with "the end in mind." What does the end look like? Please put it in words. I believe this grant could actually be submitted by the observatory (I'll check on it first thing tomorrow morning). Once "the end" has been established, who are the partners? Who is the PI and coPIs? and how much money do we want, for what, and who will be fiscal agent? Please start filling in some of the blanks below. It could be a fun project if every one contributes. Let's see some text on paper.Sherry

Hi Sherry:It's 4:00AM on Tuesday morning and I'm glad to see we are in accord on the "urgency issue" regarding the NSF Grant submission Letter of Intent. By my math it appears we have some 70 hours or so to do the deed. I'm also excited about the fact that it will be a truly "digital deed." So let's get "digitally drafting!"Letter of Intent due Friday, November 5. It needs to be emailed by the identified PI (principal investigator). NSF will email the "green light" to go forward based on this LOI.LOI summarizes the essential features of the project including impact, audience, collaboration, innovation, budget in no more than 4 single spaced pages. It must include:

Proposed Title of project / Informal Science Center & Sol Leadership Academy
*Sherry:As you know I have been a "rigorous student," advocate and implementer of the Sol Organization's intent and methodologies for several years. We have researched and developed some initial concepts, created some executable's (deeds & tools), and have engaged in discussions with various 3rd parties regarding the development of an International Sol Leadership Academy. In fact the recent Sol Conference in Dearborn was an "exquisite example" of what one might expect from such a sustainable offering "coming into being locally" which was its purpose from our perspective. It is a "natural extension" of our ongoing efforts on behalf of "making a difference in the future of mankind" which is our mandate here at the observatory.

There are a myriad of co-creating partners currently engaged in the project-development, some of whom you met in Dearborn and others who were unable to attend. Some of these additional participants are identified in our NSF Grant proposal while many others are simply a compendium of contacts I have had the pleasure of making over the past couple of decades while I was engaged in other "innovative endeavors" in various diversified emergent fields of innovation.

I believe this was one of the topic's we had in mind for discussion at our meeting on Thursday morning here at the observatory.I will be glad to share "any and all" additional information (clarification) at my disposal regarding same when we have time to sit down and focus on these issues in particular.

Best,

Jim

-----Original Message-----From: Kuchon, Sherry [mailto:Sherry.Kuchon@oakland.k12.mi.us]Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 9:45 AMTo: Jim Ross (E-mail)Subject:
SoL Leadership Academy

Jim,

Would you describe for me what the SoL Leadership Academy is, who is involved, and its mission. I'm going to be asking questions all day. I have multiple deadlines this week so I am going to squeeze a question in between meeitngs and project. Stay with me.....please.

Sherry

*Sol Leadership Academy blog-site established. http://www.sloleadershipacademy.blogspot.com

Submitting institution / McMath-Hulbert Observatory & Partnered ConsortiumNames and affiliations of PI and co-PIs, email and phone numbersPrinciple Investigators / Co-principal Investigators1. LaMoine Motz, Director, Oakland Schools Math, Science and Technology Center Phone: 248-209-2399E-mail: LaMoine.Motz@oakland.k12.mi.us2. Dwight Sieggreen, Science Teacher, Ida B. Cooke Middle School, Northville, MIPhone: 248-344-8493E-mail: sieggreed@cooke.northville.k12.mi.us3. Pat Seitzer, Senior Research Astronomer, University of Michigan / President & Board Member, McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society (MHAS)Phone: 734-936-1741E-mail: seitzer@louth.astro.lsa.umich.eduImpactCollaboration: Identify the senior staff; advisory committee members; consultants; contractors; and primary organizational partners, describing how they will achieve impacts through collaboration not otherwise possible.Senior StaffJames Ross, Director, McMath-Hulbert ObservatoryPhone: 248-335-4791E-mail: jross2@earthlink.netEdgar Hendry, Chief Telecommunications Engineer GM (retired), McMath-Hulbert Observatory / Founder & Board Member, McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society (MHAS)Phone: 248-641-3698E-mail: hendryeb@comcast.net John Iras, K-12 Education Consultant, McMath-Hulbert Observatory / Board Member, McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society (MHAS)Phone: 248-952-0772E-mail: jfiras@wideopenwest.com Paul Briercheck, K-12 Education Consultant, McMath-Hulbert Observatory / Board Member, McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society (MHAS)Phone: 248-627-7355E-mail: psbcmp@mail.comJames Bhan, Information Technology Consultant, McMath-Hulbert Observatory, Board Member, McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society (MHAS)Phone: 248-495-5404E-mail: jamesbhan@webcityworks.com Kevin Grazier, Senior Imaging Specialist, Cassini Mission, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)Phone: 818-354-7411E-mail: krg@anlashok.jpl.nasa.gov James Fitzgerald, Aerospace Education Specialist, NASA Glen Research CenterPhone: 216-433-5104E-mail: james.b.fitzgerald@lerc.nasa.gov Advisory CommitteeDonald Carli, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Communications (ISC)Phone: 212-922-9280E-mail: dcarli@sustaincom.orgOya Demirli, Executive Director, Institute for Sustainable Communications (ISC)Phone: 212-922-9280E-mail: odemirli@sustaincom.orgMel Drumm, Director, Ann Arobor Hands-on Learning CenterPhone: 248-644-3783E-mail: mdrumm@comcast.netConsultantsPat O'Connor, Field Biologist, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit DistrictMHAS MemberPhone: 313-226-5383E-Mail: mailto:patrick.s.o'connor@lre02.usace.army.milJoyce Hess, Education Outreach Coordinator, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit DistrictPhone:313-266-6445E-mail: jpyce.d.hess@lre02.usace.army.milLuke Clyburn, Executive Officer, U.S. Sea CadetsPhone: 248-666-9359E-mail: Kent Roberts, Civility CenterPhone: 248-874-1604E-mail: kentroberts@civilitycenter.orgContractorsPrimary Organizational PartnersMcMath-Hulbert Observatory (MHO)Oakland Schools (OS)Oakland Community College (OCC)Society of Organizational Learning (Sol)Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)NASA Glen Research Center (NASA)U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) U.S. Sea Cadets (USC)Civility Center (CC) Urban Community Center Consortium (UCCC)Walton Park Manor (WPM)Lancaster Village (LV)City of Pontiac Community Centers (CPCC)Innovation: Briefly describe the primary project deliverables; how they will achieve the intended impacts; their primary STEM content; the project plan; and how it builds on research and prior work.The McMath-Hulbert Observatory and it's consortium partners have been deeply engaged in the research and development of technological & telecommunication innovations for K-12 education for the past decade. We are developing this "pilot project" proposal to partner with the National Science Foundation to rigorously review, scrutinize, and disseminate our collaborative findings. The "pilot project" as we envision it will combine & actualize the following components; Informal learning within the contextual STEM elements of science, math, engineering and technology. Self-directed Project-based learning. Experiential learning. Cognitive learning.Sustainable Organizational Learning.Strategic Digital Disseminations & Outreach Initiatives.Collaboration & Creativity Historical ContextThe McMath-Hulbert Observatory has a rich and historical legacy of research, development and innovation in the Solar Astronomy field which spanned several decades beginnng in 1928. It's beginnings were founded on the development of a unique technological innovation that allowed it's originators to capture solar and lunar phenomena on motion picture film. Thus they became the first observatory in the world to make motion picture film-based, time-lapsed photographic images. This breakthrough thinking and subsequent innovation became the basis for a joint venture with the University of Michigan that spanned several decades. The observatory was officially decommissioned in 1979 and subsequently purchased by a private individual, Stanford Ovshinsky, of Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) another innovator in the field of Solar alternative energy. More recently, the observatory was purchased by yet anther private individual, James Kinsler, who felt that the historical significance of the facility should be restored and renovated for the utilization of future generations. The observatory obtained a 501(c)(3) designation as the McMath-Hulbert Astronomical Society in 1994 dedicated to the restoration and renovation of the observatory, in addition to the research and development of technological innovations in K-12 education.Today the observatory operates as an innovative incubator for creative initiatives adhering to the time honored traditions cited above. It has become a sacred place for all individuals whom are interested in the development of our future and it's sustainability. It has come to be inhabited by various professionals from a variety of diverse fields of endeavor, both locally, nationally, and in its infancy, internationally . Additionally and perhaps more importantly, it has become a sanctuary for young people (youth) who are looking for opportunities to add depth and dimension to their current understanding of how the world (science) and the people (community) in it work.RationaleThus the rationale for this proposal. Coupled with several organizations whom have missions that resonate with our endeavor (particularly K-12 education) we seek to sustain the observatory's time-honored legacy of inquiry and innovation . Working closely with the highly-placed administrator's and directly with our youth contingent we have discovered together what we believe to be some innovative insights as regards the technological future of K-12 education. To that end we are seeking your support for the continuance and sustainability of our efforts on their behalf.Beginning with the "End in Mind"The consortium as we envision it will work with the assets represented by the observatory and its partners to create the following value-chain;Utilize the current operational Solar Observatory instruments along with their digital upgrades to explore the Sun, Moon and Planets (Solar System) and via various telecommunication vehicles (internet web-based, videoconferencing, T-1 connections, fiber-optic networked connections) to disseminate these real-time viewing opportunities to K-12 education classrooms (locally, state-wide, nationally). Additionally, we will be engaged in upgrading the solar instruments to become remote-operated via the internet with the installation of robotic positioners (robotic engineering component) on the mirrors of the instruments.Deleiver existing "content deliverables" to established "pilot project" connected Local Urban Community Centers (Pontiac) for informal learning experiences.Co-create with our K-12 educational partners the curriculum and benchmarks necessary to support these initiatives.Engage our youth contingent in the actual creation, development, dissemination, and delivery (thus exposing them to 21st Century tool-sets and methodologies as well as the traditional science disciplines) of the content.Utilize our Natural Environmental assets (intermittent streams, marsh(s), fens, and lake) that surround the observatory to connect todays real-world environmental considerations to the sustainer of all life, the Sun (SOL).Develop and deploy our existing one-man submersible submarine in collaboration with our partners (U.S. Sea Cadets and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) to explore the assets represented by the inland and great lakes which inundated and surround the State of Michigan. This renovation will include the adaption of the submersible to become remotely operated via the internet from the classroom with robotic, video, lighting and satellite telecommunications connectivity and assists.Create supporting (strategic technological infrastructure and deployment) K-12 education Outreach Opportunities for exisitng K-12 programs that resonate with our mission such as the Future Farmers Association (FFA) currently celebrating their 75th anniversary.Create a K-12 Educational Leadership Learning Academy based on the Society of Organizational Learning tenets with a particular emphasis (research and development) on sustained innovation, creativity and those processes inherent in the actualizaton and realization of same.Create K-12 education Professional Staff Development opportunities that support the development and implementaion of each component and offering.8:48 / 10-2-2004 / "off the top of my head" / time for a little 'breakfast club." Don't FORGET to VOTE............or there may be no National Science Foundation (NSF) (;<)