Go to Aurora Links

Frequently Asked Questions about Aurora Alive:

I'm not a teacher. Is the DVD something I would enjoy?
Yes! The Aurora Alive™ DVD includes movies, voice-over text, clickable navigation, interactive elements and more to make it enjoyable for people of all ages and backgrounds. Discover what causes the Northern Lights, where they can best be seen and why, how scientists predict the aurora, which planets in our solar system have auroras, and more!

How was the Aurora Alive™ program developed?
Aurora Alive™ is the result of a collaboration that included input from aurora physicists & curriculum specialists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute and International Arctic Research Center, and rural Alaska middle-school teachers, students, and community Elders. Program development was funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

How are proceeds from Aurora Alive™ sales utilized?
Proceeds from Aurora Alive™ DVD and Lesson Manual sales are used to facilitate and enhance the curriculum in participating Alaska schools.

What educational standards does Aurora Alive™ meet?
The Aurora Alive™ curriculum, which includes both the DVD and the associated classroom lessons, meets National Science, Math, and Language Arts Standards, State of Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools and Alaska Content Standards. A list of standards met by each lesson is included in the Aurora Alive™ Lesson Manual.

Has Aurora Alive™ been field-tested in the classroom? What were the results?
Aurora Alive™ was field-tested in Northwest Arctic Borough School District middle schools. The program was so successful during the first year of implementation, the district made Aurora Alive™ part of their required middle-school science curriculum. Student interest in science has soared. Today, the curriculum is being implemented in rural schools throughout Alaska.

What system requirements are required for me to view Aurora Alive™ on my computer?
The DVD runs on Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Macintosh OSX operating systems; and requires a computer with a DVD drive and at least 128MB or RAM.

View FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about the aurora from teachers and students

AURORA LINKS:

• Frequently Asked Questions about the Aurora with Answers by Dr. Syun-ichi Akasofu - Asahi Aurora Classroom
• Aurora Forecast and Alert Service (daily forecast inactive during summer months when the night sky is too bright to view the aurora in the northern latitudes, but the alert service is year-around) - UAF Geophysical Institute

SUGGESTED READING:

• The Amazing Northern Lights, by Syun-Ichi Akasofu
• The Aurora Watcher's Handbook, by Neil Davis
• more