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Science and Mathematics Education Commons™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

2018

Astrophysics and Astronomy

Articles 1 - 3 of 3

Full-Text Articles in Science and Mathematics Education

Engaging Undergraduate Students In Planetary Science Research For Parabolic Flights, Gillian Gomer, Adrienne Dove, Seamus Anderson, Jeffery Jorges, Alexandra Yates Nov 2018

Engaging Undergraduate Students In Planetary Science Research For Parabolic Flights, Gillian Gomer, Adrienne Dove, Seamus Anderson, Jeffery Jorges, Alexandra Yates

Gillian Gomer

Microgravity investigations are key to understanding the behavior or regolith, or dusty granular material, that is ubiquitous on planetary surfaces. We see features on other planets that resemble avalanches and landslides seen here on Earth, while eroded craters and so-called ponds (smooth level dusty deposits at the bottom of some craters) reveal the action of various regolith flow mechanisms. The SLOPEs experiment was designed by an undergraduate group to address questions on the statics and dynamics of granular matter on the surfaces of small Solar System bodies, including a) the flow behavior of granular material along slopes (landslides and avalanches) …

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How Middle Level Science Teachers Visualize And Translate Motion, Scale, And Geometric Space Of The Earth-Moon-Sun System With Their Students, Jennifer Wilhelm, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cohen, Rebecca Lindell Jun 2018

How Middle Level Science Teachers Visualize And Translate Motion, Scale, And Geometric Space Of The Earth-Moon-Sun System With Their Students, Jennifer Wilhelm, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cohen, Rebecca Lindell

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Astronomy Education Research.] We examined teachers’ spatial-scientific reasoning and the alternative conceptions they held regarding Earth-space content. While participating in a professional development (PD) workshop, teachers engaged in an integrated mathematics and science project-based unit designed to foster spatial reasoning and improve lunar-related conceptual understanding. The Purdue Spatial Visualization Test-Rotation (PSVT-Rot) and the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory (LPCI) were used to assess understanding. We found the teachers held similar alternative conceptions as their students. Moreover, we discovered that teachers had limited understanding of the Earth-Moon-Sun scale, motions, and geometric configurations. To …

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Spatial Thinking In Astronomy Education Research, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cole, Jennifer Wilhelm, Rebecca Lindell Jun 2018

Spatial Thinking In Astronomy Education Research, Merryn Cole, Cheryl Cole, Jennifer Wilhelm, Rebecca Lindell

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Astronomy Education Research.] Multiple studies show that spatial thinking skills contribute to students’ performance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. The study of astronomy is no different with the understanding of many astronomical phenomena requiring spatial thinking skills. This paper describes traditional and contemporary approaches to characterizing and measuring spatial thinking skills and suggests how they inform research in astronomy education. It summarizes previous literature in astronomy education research and categorizes the research approaches of astronomy education peer-reviewed journal articles and conference proceedings that explicitly consider the role of spatial …

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