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Thirty Three Years of Teaching Thirty Years of Teaching Astronomy Including methods good or bad, you decide.

Thirty Three Years of Teaching Thirty Years of Teaching Astronomy Including methods good or bad, you decide. Military Service (1959-1962) College (1962-1966) UMD -- Physics & Math. First Teaching Position (1966 -1969) (physics and math) Almont, Mich . . Almont Science Fair.

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Thirty Three Years of Teaching Thirty Years of Teaching Astronomy Including methods good or bad, you decide.

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  1. Thirty Three Years of TeachingThirty Years of Teaching AstronomyIncluding methods good or bad, you decide.

  2. Military Service (1959-1962)College (1962-1966)UMD -- Physics & Math

  3. First Teaching Position (1966 -1969) (physics and math) Almont, Mich.

  4. Almont Science Fair

  5. Graduate School (1969 - 1970) USD (Physics & Earth Science)Project Physics Training

  6. Next Teaching Position (1970 - 1979) (Physics and General Science) Viroqua, Wi.

  7. Project Physics --Chapters unifying Astronomy & Physics (Students interested in the Astronomy sections)

  8. Borrowed Telescope From Westby Teacher.Photo of 1st Qtr. Moon. (Enlarged, Presented as argument for own scope)

  9. Purchase of Cave 6 inch reflector scope (story of cigarette ashes) Start Separate course for Astronomy

  10. Astrophotography becomes major part of course work. • Six Methods • Moon Phases • Position of Planets in night sky. • Position of Jupiter's Moons • Constellations • Meteor Showers • “Fun stuff”

  11. Eclipse of Moon. (Gathering data of shadow movement across craters)

  12. Report in Sky and Telescope Credit given to University of California University of Wisconsin –Eau Claire Viroqua High School

  13. Students ask again: Why not have our own observatory? Studied what it would take to build one; i.e. requirements, building design, funding, etc. Approached administration and told no. Students decide to carry forth anyway.

  14. Form Viroqua Astronomical Society – raise funds, gather community support, make plans. Etc.Students (VAS) approach school with plan, build on school ground, financed outside of school, district agrees to maintain structure.)

  15. Students start construction, all volunteer work. Roof blows off, new design and new roof constructed.

  16. Observatory opens. Parents and Grandparents become active viewers. Host WAAPT conference – gain support of professionals throughout the state. Bob Elliott

  17. Student Builds own scope, goes on for Phd in Astrophysics, works at Optical Mirror Facility in Tucson.

  18. Students spend full evenings at observatory Class sleeps on floor of classroom in mornings on occasion.Students master 6 methods of astrophotography.

  19. Class taught with the idea of teaching methods of science. Study of different areas of Astronomy with emphasis on developing a lifelong appreciation for the sky. Sample photos, of sky, building, and students can be seen in notebook and on bulletin board.

  20. Applied for leave of absence, turned down, resigned. Joined La Crosse Schools - 1979Appointed Planetarium Director (not shown facility during interview in 1970)

  21. Planetarium use was minimal at this time. Don Olson - Physics Teacher kept the Planetarium Open Purchase of telescope - Meade 8 inch.Designed planetarium programs for total school district - grades k-12.Planetarium counted as part of teaching job.

  22. Obtain Grant: Purchase of two Meade 8 inch and 3 astroscan scopes. Gave the first scope to other high school. They add astronomy as course of study.Astronomy accepted for science credit by many major universities.

  23. .Wednesday evening viewing started. Students required to make observations and one major project. Do not have to be with teacher. Letter from superintendent releasing evening viewing from school rule of no activity on Wed. Eve. (example: Comet Hyakutake and Hale Bopp story; First evening no optics, just a blanket.; Joined by community members, university students, friends.

  24. Occasional special times, solar and lunar eclipses, cookouts, etc.Field Trips to Hobbs Observatory - A time of learning for all, I am very proud of what they accomplished. Stories, examples Sara, Andy, Jessica, Gabe, etc.

  25. Course Requirements • Three viewings of night sky per term

  26. Course Requirements • Three viewings of night sky per term • Course Project due by end of Semester

  27. Course Requirements • Three viewings of night sky per term • Course Project due by end of Semester • Must be presented orally & written

  28. Course Requirements • Three viewings of night sky per term • Course Project due by end of Semester • Must be presented orally & written • Use talents, artistic, poet, music, hands on ability, etc.

  29. Course Requirements • Three viewings of night sky per term • Course Project due by end of Semester • Must be presented orally & written • Use talents, artistic, poet, music, hands on ability, etc. • Can be done in groups if project warrants large numbers.

  30. Example Class Project

  31. Laboratory Work Groups • Only three classmates per group.

  32. Laboratory Work Groups • Only three classmates per group. • One must be mathematical in approach

  33. Laboratory Work Groups • Only three classmates per group. • One must be mathematical in approach • One must be thinker, abstract is good.

  34. Laboratory Work Groups • Only three classmates per group. • One must be mathematical in approach • One must be thinker, abstract is good. • One must be hands on type of person

  35. Laboratory Work Groups • Only three classmates per group. • One must be mathematical in approach • One must be thinker, abstract is good. • One must be hands on type of person • All must help out handicapped. • All must write own report.

  36. Software Used • Planetarium Software - Voyager by Carina Software, Full featured planetarium software. • Crystal Lake Observatory - by John Young, Software simulating a 24inch telescope using various eyepieces, photometer and ccd camera. • Purchase of ccd camera helps.

  37. Spreadsheet software for analyzing data and making calculations which are necessary. • Graphical Analysis for graphing of data. • HRCalc - HRCalc allows you to select real or imaginary stars and plot their positions on the Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram. By changing the star's values, you are able to see it shift position on the HR scale. The program also graphically displays the star's size in relation to the Sun, another graphic displays size compared to our solar system.

  38. Equipment to accomplish mission. • Computers for Teacher and one for every three students for labs. • Telescopes - Two or more, must be portable. • Binoculars - 7 X 50 and 10 X 80 • Cameras - 35 mm with tripod, cable release, etc. Access to dark room if possible. • Camera adapters for telescopes for various methods.

  39. Mission Lost in Space - Investigate and find the way home.

  40. Mission • Lost in Space - Investigate and find the way home. • Investigate Deep Space - nebulae, galaxies, clusters and stars.

  41. Mission • Lost in Space - Investigate and find the way home. • Investigate Deep Space - nebulae, galaxies, clusters and stars. • Investigate Variable Stars

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