An invitation: Your chapter has been selected to receive a free kit with fun activities on quality lighting. Please read the enclosed information. As Chapter Leader, should you decide to accept the kit, please fill out the Expectations Form on the reverse side and send it back to Connie Walker by email (cwalker@noao.edu) or by fax (+1-520-318-8451). The deadline for the forms is January 15, 2016. Introduction: Poor quality lighting not only impedes astronomy research, but creates safety issues, affects human circadian sensitivities, disrupts ecosystems, and wastes billions of dollars/year in energy consumption and carbon emissions. The United Nations-sanctioned International Year of Light in 2015 (IYL2015) is providing an opportunity to increase public awareness of dark skies preservation, quality lighting and energy conservation. The Education and Public Outreach (EPO) group at the U.S. National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) has received grants through the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the Optical Society (OSA) to produce official “Quality Lighting Teaching Kits” for the IYL2015 cornerstone theme, “Cosmic Light”. The goal is to increase student and public awareness of light pollution issues and “quality lighting” solutions. In doing so, the program emphasizes the use of proper optical design in achieving quality lighting that promotes both energy efficiency and energy conservation and protects an endangered natural resource: our dark skies. The Kit and Activities: The concepts and practices of quality lighting is explored through problem-based learning, hands-on/minds-on activities, as well as assessment probes. The six activities use quality lighting to solve realistic cases on how light pollution affects wildlife, the night sky, our eyes, energy consumption, safety and light trespass into buildings. The impact of the kits is amplified by providing professional development using a tutorial video created at NOAO and conducting question and answer sessions via Google+ Hangouts for program instructors. Our Partners: NOAO’s partners are the Optical Society (OSA), International Commission on Illumination (CIE), the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA), International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE), and the IAU Office of Astronomy for Development. Their networks are disseminating the program and kits to formal and informal audiences worldwide. The impact sought is a change in knowledge, attitude, and behavior in each community by learning how to light responsibly, improving the quality of life in “illuminating” ways.

Contact Information: For further information, please contact Connie Walker at cwalker@noao.edu or +1-520-318-8535.

The  Quality  Lighting  Teaching  Kit:  Enlightening  the  Future  

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Quality Lighting Teaching (QLT) Kit Program.  

What Can You Expect from the Quality Lighting Teaching Kit Program? By signing up for the program, you can expect to receive:

• Six hands-on/minds-on activities, a complete kit of supplies to implement the activities, • A tutorial video on how to carry out the activities, • A question and answer session via Google+ Hangouts for program instructors and • Support from NOAO staff on the activities.

What Does the Quality Lighting Teaching Kit Program Expect from You? By signing up for the program, your “Instructor” from the National Committee (NC) will be expected to:

• Look over the instructor’s guide and all kit materials, view the tutorial video and participate in the Google+ Hangout for questions to be answered.

• Implement the activities within a semester with the same middle school students either in classrooms or afterschool programs during 2016 and perhaps 2017.

• Provide Connie Walker (cwalker@noao.edu) with feedback on your use of the QLT Kit Program. Per activity:

o Where, when and for how long was it used? With how many students and with what age groups?

o How well did it work overall; what did and did not work; and how to improve it? o What about the activities did students enjoy? Would you use it again? How well

did the activities support student learning of the learning objectives?

By signing below, we agree to the above list of expectations and we will participate in the program during 2016 and perhaps 2017. The completed form is to be sent to C. E. Walker by email (cwalker@noao.edu) or by fax (+1-520-318-8451). Printed Name of NC President or VP: _____________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________Date: _____________

Email Address: ______________________________Phone: ___________________

Printed Name of Instructor from NC: _______________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________Date: _____________

Email Address: ______________________________Phone: ___________________

Name of National Committee: _______________________________________________

Institution & Mailing Address: ______________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

NC Website Address (if applicable): ________________________________________________

The  Quality  Lighting  Teaching  Kit  Expectations  Form