1. http://www.astro.washington.edu/premap / Summary The primary goal of Pre-MAP is to increase the retention of students traditionally underrepresented in science, math, and technical majors. We have documented our curriculum and best practices for your downloading pleasure: ▫ Overview of Pre-MAP ▫ Research Seminar Curricula ▫ Guide for Research Mentors ▫ Guide for Academic Mentors (in prep) Phil Rosenfield: philrose@astro.washington.edu

2. Pre-MAP Mission Statement The primary goal of Pre-MAP is to increase the retention of students traditionally underrepresented in science, math, and technical majors. To achieve this goal, Pre-MAP: engages students in discipline-specific research provides advising, mentoring, and academic support while building a sense of community among participants http://www.astro.washington.edu/premap /

3. First Quarter Seminar Pre-MAP students take a seminar (concurrent with an introductory astronomy course) which teaches astronomy research methods, and starts them on research projects. The goal is to excite students about getting involved in research, and to give them confidence in participating in Astronomy. http://www.astro.washington.edu/premap /

4. Program Goals after Seminar GoalsEach Quarter Second-Third Years Graduation Research and Skills Continue project Improve research skills Desirability of hire Improve research skills Presentations and Publications Improve research skills Science Degree and Career Class schedule prepares for science degree Formulate college and career goal Graduate with science degree Academic success Active member of field Undergrad Experience Increase in self- confidence Change in perception of University community membership Positive experience at UW Use of mentors and advisers Overview of Pre-MAP

5. Pre-MAP Seminar Teaching GoalMethods to Obtain Goal 1. Allow students to have a scientific research experience Pair students with research mentors for a short (5 week) research experience 2. Teach students programming concepts for their research projects Teach three programming objectives: Read data, Write data, Plot data 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Assign reading and writing to investigate science communication (from informal to formal) 4. Get students off to a successful start in their science major Teach effective study habits, time management, how to approach exams and problem sets. Create a nurturing learning environment among their peers, graduate students and faculty members by having informal group building activities. Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide

6. Pre-MAP Seminar Teaching GoalMethods to Obtain Goal 1. Allow students to have a scientific research experience Pair students with research mentors for a short (5 week) research experience 2. Teach students programming concepts for their research projects Teach three programming objectives: Read data, Write data, Plot data 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Assign reading and writing to investigate science communication (from informal to formal) 4. Get students off to a successful start in their science major Teach effective study habits, time management, how to approach exams and problem sets. Create a nurturing learning environment among their peers, graduate students and faculty members by having informal group building activities. Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide

7. 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide Mass Media (Positive) Mass Media (Fear) Scientific Journal Their Research Dept. Presentation A Cosmic Perspective by Neil DeGrasse Tyson 1.What is the purpose of scientific research? 2.How should the public view scientific research? 3.What type of person does the author portray as a scientist; who does science? A scientist is one that works to enlighten, understand, reason, and offer guidance to those that do not have the same opportunities to think and feel the same... Example of student work:

8. 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide Mass Media (Positive) Mass Media (Fear) Scientific Journal Their Research Dept. Presentation The Sky is Falling By Gregg Easterbrook In this article, he presents the purpose of scientific research to the public as being necessary if we want to stay out of danger. The purpose is to make the general public aware that these things could occur. 1.What is the purpose of scientific research? 2.How should the public view scientific research? 3.What type of person does the author portray as a scientist; who does science? Example of student work:

9. 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide Mass Media (Positive) Mass Media (Fear) Scientific Journal Their Research Dept. Presentation Discovery of a Candidate Inner Oort Cloud Planetoid, Brown et al., ApJ 2004, 617, 645 Goals 1.They have a good first experience reading a scientific paper 2.They feel they understand the paper and that they taught themselves.

10. 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide Mass Media (Positive) Mass Media (Fear) Scientific Journal Their Research Dept. Presentation 1.The Elevator Pitch 2.One ‐ line Elevator Pitch 3.Describe your research to someone who doesn’t know any science.

11. 3. Introduce students to the many aspects of scientific research Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide Mass Media (Positive) Mass Media (Fear) Scientific Journal Their Research Dept. Presentation

12. 4. Get students off to a successful start in their science major Study SkillsSelf-Evaluation Techniques Academic Mentor Guide (in prep) Find out as soon as possible what studying habits work Goal How to do a problem set Getting the most out of group study sessions How to structure exam studying How to take a test, explaining the physics-exam curve

13. 4. Get students off to a successful start in their science major Study SkillsSelf-Evaluation Techniques Academic Mentor Guide (in prep) Loose credit only for a lack of knowledge on the subject Goal Go through the test and tally up how many points lost/issue poor studying, silly mistake, misunderstood the question, didn’t know the material How did you study for that question? How did you know that? Example...

14. www.astro.washington.edu/premap/ Questions? Phil Rosenfield: philrose@astro.washington.edu The primary goal of Pre-MAP is to increase the retention of students traditionally underrepresented in science, math, and technical majors. We have documented our curriculum and best practices for your downloading pleasure: ▫ Overview of Pre-MAP ▫ Research Seminar Curricula ▫ Guide for Research Mentors ▫ Guide for Academic Mentors (in prep)

15. www.astro.washington.edu/premap/

16. Extra Slides…

19. 1. Successful Research Experience Pre-MAP research mentors are volunteer faculty members, post-docs, or graduate students working on their own or in teams with students in the second half of the research seminar In a successful research project, students: 1.complete a task they understand and feel like they have participated in research 2.feel confident presenting preliminary results at the end of the course 3.feel they could continue their work in the following quarter for research credit Research Mentor Guide

20. 2. Teach students programming concepts Basic UNIX Data manipulation: Read, Write, Plot in either IDL or Python Most of the applicable programming skills are taught by the Research Mentors. Pre-MAP Curriculum Guide