Cosmos in the Classroom

Purchase Cosmos in the Classroom 2004

Handouts and Papers Volume

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction — Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College & Astronomical Society of the Pacific and Bill Waller (Tufts University and New England Space Science Initiative in Education)

A. Astronomy Education Research and the Introductory Astronomy Classroom

The Astronomy Diagnostic Test: Guidelines and the Test

The Use of Personal Responder Devices to Assess Student Understanding, and Student Beliefs about their Effectiveness, in Astro 101 — Erin Dokter (University of Arizona), et al.

Insights from a Survey of Astronomy Instructors in Community and Other Teaching-Oriented Colleges in the U.S. — Andrew Fraknoi (A.S.P. and Foothill College)

Probing the Effectiveness of the Conventional Introductory Astronomy Lecture —
Edward Prather, Timothy Slater, and Janelle Bailey (University of Arizona)

Effects of Collaborative Learning on Communication Apprehension, Class Satisfaction, and Academic Achievement — Myung-Hyun Rhee, Sug-Whan
Eun-Joo Kim, Joohan Kim (Yonsei University, Korea)

Utilizing Bloom’s Taxonomy of Cognition to Develop Constructivist Methodology
for Teaching Astronomy — Brock Schroeder (Olivet Nazarine University)

B. Going Beyond The Lecture: New Ways of Teaching

Sample Activities from Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy: 1. Naked
Astronomy: Motion; 2. Milky Way Scales — Jeff Adams, Ed Prather, and Tim Slater
(University of Arizona)

The Pain and Pleasure of Unlearning Misconceptions in the Classroom — Neil
Comins (University of Maine)

Astronomy in the “Hot Seat” — Anthony Crider (Elon University)

Peer Instruction for Introductory Astronomy — Paul Green (Harvard University)

The Learner-Centered Classroom — Lauren Jones (Gettysburg College)

Hands-on Inquiry-Based Astronomy Activities — Rebecca Lindell and Tom Foster
(Southern Illinois University Edwardsville); includes 1. Cause of Lunar Phases
2. Observing the Zodiacal Constellations (with answer key); 3. Build Your Own
Telescope; 4. The Expansion of the Universe

Bringing the Real World into the Classroom: Project-based Astronomy for Students
in two- and Four-Year Colleges — Philip Sadler and Bruce Ward (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

When is a Good Day Teaching a Bad Thing? — Timothy Slater (University of Arizona)

Leading Active Classrooms — Timothy Slater (University of Arizona) and Jeff
Adams (Montana State University)

C. New Technology and the Astronomy Classroom (including on-line teaching)

The Universe: An Integrated Introductory Course — Timothy Barker and Lori Agan (Wheaton College)

Teaching with Electrons: Notes from the Invited Talk on Technology in Astronomy Education — Chris Impey (University of Arizona)

Using the Planetarium in Teaching an Introductory Astronomy Course: A Report
on a Panel — Jerry LaSala (University of Southern Maine), moderator

The ClassAction System: Easy-to-Use Classroom Materials for Student Discussion
and Voting — Kevin Lee (University of Nebraska), Tim Slater (University of Arizona), & Todd Young (Wayne State College)

Java Applets for Physics and Astronomy — Dick McCray, Drew Koelemay, and Scott Gettman (University of Colorado)

On-Line Astronomy: Teaching Strategies and Tools — Mary Radnofsky (Socrates
Institute, University of Maryland University College) and Matthew Bobrowsky (Space Telescope Science Institute & University of Maryland University College)

Personalized Web-based Homework in Astronomy Using LON-CAPA — Thom Robertson (Ball State University)

Effectiveness of Geowall Technology in Conceptualizing Lunar Phases — Niescja Turner (Florida Institute of Technology), et al

D. Laboratory Experiences for Non-science Majors

Model Fitting for a Non-majors Astronomy Class Using Starry Night and Excel —
Anthony Crider (Elon University)

ACUMEN: Astronomy Classes Unleashed, Meaningful Experiences for Neophytes
— M. Fauerbach, M. Schonberg, & M. Mon (Florida Gulf Coast University)

Using the Planetarium for Teaching Introductory Astronomy — Noreen Grice (Boston Museum of Science)

Discovery Labs at the University of Texas at Austin — Mary Kay Hemenway,
Daniel Jaffe, Marcelo Alvarez, Chad Young (University of Texas) and M.J. Tykoski
(Round Rock School District)

Mars Base: A Problem Solving Activity — Frederick Hickok (Community College of Baltimore County)

Project CLEA: Bringing the Universe into the Laboratory — Laurence Marschall, P. Richard Cooper, & Glenn Snyder (Gettysburg College)

Enhancing Undergraduate Laboratory Experiences with Inexpensive Consumer-Grade Technologies — M. Mon, M. Fauerbach & S. Schonberg (Florida Gulf Coast University)

Low Velocity Impact Craters in the Lab — Gary Parker (Norwich University)

Sky Server: Education and Outreach with Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data — Jordan Raddick (Johns Hopkins University) and Beth Hufnagel (Anne Arundel Community College)

Imaging the Moon: Observation & Analysis — Tahshi Sato (Kwantlen U. College)

Project LITE Spectroscopy — E. Weeks, K. Brecher, P. Carr, and P. Garik (Boston University)

Adapting Pre-College Activities on Scale to Astronomy 101 — Mary Urquhart (University of Texas at Dallas University)

E. Observing Projects for Non-science Majors

The Internet Telescope: Remote Observing for the City Astronomy Class — Lor Gehret, Wayne Winters, and Steven Coberly (Latin School of Chicago)

Summary for Remote Observing with the Pomona College Telescopes — Bryan Penprase (Pomona College)

Using a Campus Observatory for Effective Teaching: A Report on a Panel — William Waller (Tufts University & NASA/NESSIE), Facilitator

F. Interdisciplinary Approaches to Astronomy Teaching

Dealing with Disbelieving Students on Issues of Evolutionary Processes and Long Time Scales — Matthew Brobowsky (Space Telescope Science Institute &
University of Maryland University College)

Astrobiology as an Alternative Integrated Science Curriculum for the General Science Requirements in Higher Education Harold Geller (George Mason University)

The Astronomy of Middle-Earth: Teaching Astronomy through Tolkien — Kristine
Larsen (Central Connecticut State College)

The Science in Science Fiction: Enhancing the Teaching of Astronomy with Science Fiction — Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College & A.S.P.)

Science Fiction Stories with Good Astronomy and Physics: A Topical Index — Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College & A.S.P.)

Dealing with Astrology, UFO’s, and Faces on Other Worlds: A Guide to Addressing Astronomical Pseudo-science in the Classroom — Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College & A.S.P.)

Archaeoastronomy in the Undergraduate Curriculum — Bryan Penphrase (Pomona College)

Using Blackboard to Explore Astronomy in Art and Music — Laurie Reed (Saginaw Valley State University)

G. Training Future K-12 Teachers

Pre-Service Teachers in the Introductory Astronomy Classroom: Reaching Those Doing the Teaching — Jennifer Grier and R. Bruce Ward (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

Graduate Astro 101: Teaching Teachers — Helen Hart (Computer Science Corporation & Johns Hopkins University)

Examining the Potential for Using Space Science as a Context for Teaching Among Minority-serving Preservice Faculty — Laurie Ruberg & Stanley Jones (Mid-Atlantic Region Space Science Broker, NASA OSS)

Teachers as Students — Mary Urquhart (University of Texas at Dallas)

Introductory Astronomy for Pre-Service Science Teachers — William Waller & Radha Pertaub (Tufts University & NASA/NESSIE) and Laurie Ruberg & Stanley Jones (Wheeling Jesuit University and NASA/MARSSB)

H. Organizations, Training, and Web Sites for Astronomy Instructors

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific: Creating Partnerships to Communicate Astronomy — Michael Bennett, et al (ASP)

Astronomycenter.org: A Digital Library for Astronomy 101 — Marc Gagne & Patricia Monahan (West Chester University) and Susana Deustua (American Astronomical Society)

Creating a Center for Spanish Language Astronomy Materials — Stephen Pompea, Constance Walker, and Katy Garmany (National Optical Astronomy Observatories)

College Astronomy Teaching Workshops — Tim Slater and Ed Prather (University of Arizona)

Complete + Open Introductory Astronomy (Astronomy 101) Website — Nick Strobel (Bakersfield College)

The JPL Center for Astronomy Education

Educational Materials Available from NASA’s Astronomical Search for Origins Forum

I. Other Topics

Introductory Astronomy Term Project — Joan Brenner (Bunker Hill Community College)

The Power of “What If ” Questions in the Classroom — Neil Comins (University of Maine)

What to Do with Overhead Projectors Besides Show Overheads — Katy Garmany (NOAO) and Ken Brecher (Boston University)

Teaching Astronomy in a Prison Environment — Tony George (Columbia Basin College)

Astronomy for Students with Visual Impairments — Noreen Grice (Boston Museum of Science)

Astronomy for Students with Special Needs: Resources and Strategies — Noreen Grice (Boston Museum of Science)

Goals for Astro 101: A Report on Workshops for Department Leaders — Bruce Partridge (Haverford College) and George Greenstein (Amherst College)

Astronomy Education Review: A Web-based Journal/Magazine — Sidney Wolff (National Optical Astronomy Observatory) & Andrew Fraknoi (Foothill College)

Appendices:

1. Web Sites for College Astronomy Instructors

2. Cosmos in the Classroom 2004: Program Overview