Chelen Johnson
I am grateful for NITARP and appreciative for all those that put in the long hours so the program can be as successful as it is. I had heard about the program at a workshop in 2012 and decided to apply since I heard what a great program it is. My experiences have gone way beyond my expectations. Thanks [..] for giving teachers and students the opportunities you do!
When I look at how the intellectual process changed over the last year I imagine it going from a diffuse look at research and the entire conference experience to the extreme focus on our own project during the year and finally reaching outward again in Seattle to incorporate new information and understandings. Returning to AAS made the experience complete.
I am currently doing my unit in my Space Tech class on stellar evolution, and I have added about 2 more weeks of info/labs to this from all I have learned this year via my NITARP experience. Although I knew the basics before, and have taught them for about 18 years, I feel like I'm teaching a whole new unit and can not only go deeper with my kids, but do it with much more passion.