Texas Tech University June 13-14 Cosmic Ray Workshop Agenda

“Our mission is to create opportunities for teachers and students to explore the nature of scientific research. Using cosmic ray muon detectors, participants design and perform experiments to analyze data employing the cosmic ray e-lab.”

  Learning objectives.

a.   Configure a cosmic ray detector appropriately for acquisition of data for calibration and analysis of measurements.

b.   Identify and describe the e-Lab tools available for conducting studies with data collected using a cosmic ray detector.

c.   Create, organize and interpret a data plot to make a claim based on evidence; provide reasoning and identify data limitations.

d.   Develop a plan for taking students from their current level of data use to subsequent levels using activities and/or ideas from the workshop.

Pre-Workshop notes:

                                -- needs assessment including communicating with mentor and/or lead teacher

                                -- check GPS location

                                -- check room

                                -- check projector and cables for presentations

                                -- print workshop evaluation

                                -- gather tools & supplies  - TAPE! TAPE! TAPE!  Wide Black Electrical Tape works best

                                -- optional: black light --> scintillator

                                -- create e-Lab and Quarknet accounts for all teachers

                                --- have data collection computers with EQUIP installed and JAVA updated

1st Day June 13:  

                      9:00     Welcome/Intros and mission statement and enduring understanding  Science Buiilding Room 12

Sign-in:

Teachers must sign in each day. The sign-in sheet should, minimally, have spaces for the name and signature of each teacher as well as time in and time out. Send the completed sign-in sheets to Anne Zakas. Originals are preferred; mail to:

Anne Zakas
QuarkNet Center at Notre Dame
Department of Physics
225 Nieuwland Science Hall
Notre Dame IN 46556

                       Needs assessment, norms, goals and learning objectives

                        Logistics: schedule, meals, parking lot for questions/comments, etc

                        Cosmic Ray science lecture  

                        QuarkNet overview: "The Purpose of Quarknet"  Video conference with Shane Wood

            Cosmic Ray Mission discussion

                        Cosmic Ray Muon Detector hardware  components

                        Assemble CRMD: assist by QN staff  

                         Four teams --> assemble four counters 

                         One team --> plan DAQ/GPS placement

                         Plan study type: shower array or stacked array?

                         Measure GEOMETRY

                         Data-taking: 'EQUIP' procedure

                        Cosmic Ray e-Lab overview

                         e-Lab Login: verify accounts

                        Tour e-Lab: Teacher side: Student side

                        Manage accounts: create student groups, change password

                         Reflection and Discussion of the day’s activities

                         5:00    Take CR data: overnight

2nd day June 14:

                        9:00   Review of previous day’s activities

                                    Teacher: Learning Objectives, Community

                                    Student: Cool Science, Library, Upload, Data, Posters

                        CRMD data UPLOAD: overnight data

                        PERFORMANCE analysis tool

                                  -- Assess data quality and discuss need for plateauing. 

                        Load GEOMETRY

                        FLUX, SHOWER, Lifetime, and Time of Flight analysis tools

                        Team CR investigation: FLUX, SHOWER --> write shared POSTER

                         POSTER presentations      Very short just enough to see how it works.                     

                        Implementation Plan: classroom approach

                        Future plans for group: CRMD data-taking, coordinate research, CRMD rotation schedule

                      5:00 Wrap up

Facilitator:  Martin Shaffer  martin.shaffer@cowley.edu