STARnet: Casting a Broader Net Through Teaching and Technology began in 2005 with five schools in the Hilo area: Kea‘au Middle School, Pāhoa Intermediate School, Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary, St. Joseph Middle and High School, and Connections Public Charter School. The project contributes to the implementation of Hawai‘i’s Act 51 by establishing and sustaining communities of learners through professional development for teachers and their principals. This year STARnet is developing a prototype for 8th grade teachers with the intent of expanding to other grades and schools in coming years. The professional development course is designed to help teachers tie their science curriculum to the 8th grade HCPS III using CRDG’s FAST 3, Change Over Time and Teaching Science as Inquiry: Astronomy. The project also incorporates exhibits from ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i and other resources accessed through distance-learning technologies. The four cornerstones of the project are standards-based earth and space science content knowledge; research-based teaching and learning; distance-learning enrichment, and parent and family involvement in standards-based education. Added to these are frequent collection of student data and inquiry to inform teaching and learning decisions. STARnet project partners include Department of Education Hawai‘i District’s Ka‘ū, Kea‘au and Pāhoa Complex; University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Department of Physics and Astronomy; ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i, and the Curriculum Research & Development Group.
Participating Schools
Kea‘au Middle
Pāhoa Intermediate
Ka‘ū High & Pāhala Elementary
St. Joseph Middle and High
Connections PCS