In past years, HOU has held a one-week workshop each summer in which 30 pilot teachers learned to use HOU and provided feedback that was used in the development and refinement of the project. The HOU teacher enhancement process now uses Teacher Resource Agents (TRAs) to provide staff development for new HOU teachers. Over the next several years, we expect HOU to grow exponentially as a few teachers from each workshop will go on to become TRAs after using HOU successfully in the classroom and undergoing further training. Following the workshops, TRA's are given ongoing support during the school year.
The HOU WWW pages provide a forum for communication among teachers, students, HOU staff and professional astronomers. Through email, classroom visits, and video- conferencing (where available), professional astronomers mentor teachers and students to help guide their HOU investigations.
The TRA method of HOU expansion encourages regional growth since TRAs generally work with teachers within their own geographical area. HOU has developed a system for local support called Support Teams with Resources for Educational Explorations using Technology (STREET). Each STREET includes members of local universities, museums, amateur astronomy groups, and industry working along with schools to build a strong foundation for projects such as HOU. Contributions from STREETs include mentorship, equipment, facilities for meetings and workshops, and technical support.
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