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Solar Scaffolding: Enhancing Astronomy Education with Research-Based Programs

This educational approach supports teachers and students in conducting authentic solar research. The program offers distance learning courses, workshops, and observing opportunities for participants to engage in astronomy research. Supporting educational materials and online resources facilitate the implementation of research projects in the classroom. The materials encompass a range of topics such as solar astronomy fundamentals, multi-wavelength observations, and tools for presenting research. Scaffolding files available on the program website serve as a template for educators to incorporate solar research in their teaching. Contact information for the National Optical Astronomy Observatory is provided for further inquiries.

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Solar Scaffolding: Enhancing Astronomy Education with Research-Based Programs

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  1. A New Educational Scaffolding Approach to Support Authentic Solar Research in the Classroom N. DeMuth (El Camino College), C.E. Walker (NOAO), D.M. Isbell (NOAO), S.M. Pompea (NOAO) AGU 2006 ED11C

  2. Overview • Challenge: How to get a great research program to more teachers and students? • Introduction to the program • A solution to the challenge • The supporting educational materials AGU 2006 ED11C

  3. Kitt Peak National Observatory near Tucson, Arizona Solar Observatory AGU 2006 ED11C

  4. Now in its 11th year at the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, A-RBSE introduces middle school and high school teachers from around the country to astronomy research and provides them with the scaffolding to perform research projects with their students. Astronomy Research-Based Science Education (A-RBSE) AGU 2006 ED11C

  5. A-RBSE Research Programs AGU 2006 ED11C

  6. A 14-week distance learning course covering astronomy content, research, mentoring and leadership A two-week summer workshop with 4 nights on Kitt Peak observing with 4 different telescopes Each research group presents their results on the final day of the workshop A-RBSE Program Highlights AGU 2006 ED11C

  7. More observing opportunities for students and teachers on Kitt Peak, Arizona and remotely from an observatory in New Mexico Opportunities to submit research articles to the project’s journal Travel to the National Science Teachers Association conference A-RBSE Program Highlights AGU 2006 ED11C

  8. To reach a wider audience, supportive educational materials and data for research projects are being put on-line. Over 150 Teachers AGU 2006 ED11C

  9. Science education research has shown for teachers to carry research into the classroom and for students to work with data, they need strong content background. The following materials provide scaffolding to support teacher implementation of A-RBSE data a structure within which students can place new facts, concepts, & insights into astronomy research. Preparation of these materials relied on interviews with past A-RBSE teachers and their astronomer-mentors as well as information from National Academy Press publications. Supporting Educational Materials AGU 2006 ED11C

  10. http://www.noao.edu/outreach/tlrbse/tlrbse-supplement.html Supporting Educational Materials Solar Websites Overviews Interactives and Movies Lesson Plans History of Solar Astronomy Fundamentals (e.g., Spectral Lines) Sunspots Magnetic Fields Multi-wavelength Solar Observations Tools for Research and Presenting ResearchBooks, Magazines, DVDs, Videos & Posters on the Sun AGU 2006 ED11C

  11. Supporting Educational Materials http://www.noao.edu/outreach/tlrbse/tlrbse-supplement.html Sample Research Articles Background Activities Icebreakers, Sunspots, Rotation Period, Butterfly Diagram, Light-waves and Spectroscopes, Magnetism, Polarization, Stellar Evolution, Stellar Classification, Digital Images Background Science Content Powerpoints AGU 2006 ED11C

  12. Background Science Content Powerpoints AGU 2006 ED11C

  13. Sample Teaching Materials Calendar Daily Point Sheet Expectations & Evaluation for Research Poster Expectations & Evaluation for Research Paper Student Self-Evaluation Support Files from the Solar Research Program & Other A-RBSE Research Programs Supporting Educational Materials http://www.noao.edu/outreach/tlrbse/tlrbse-supplement.html AGU 2006 ED11C

  14. Calendar AGU 2006 ED11C

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  17. http://www.noao.edu/outreach/tlrbse/tlrbse-supplement.html Support Files from the Solar Research Program User’s Guide to the Solar Spectra Data Analysis Package Assignment in Preparation for the Solar Research Project The Solar Research Project Determining Magnetic Field Strength of Sunspots via Zeeman Split Spectral Lines Technical Glossary Tutorial on Zeeman Split Spectral Lines Estimating Magnetic Field Strength Solar Data Files (Raw, Reduced and Analyzed) AGU 2006 ED11C

  18. To address the needs of a wider audience of teachers and students, steps have been taken to supply web-based foundational resources for the A-RBSE solar research program. Teachers can use this “solar scaffolding” to support the implementation of authentic solar research in the classroom. The scaffolding files on the webpage will serve as a template for other A-RBSE research. They will also enable non-A-RBSE middle and high school teachers to download and use A-RBSE data in their own classrooms. Summary AGU 2006 ED11C

  19. Contact Information Connie Walker National Optical Astronomy Observatory 950 N. Cherry Ave. Tucson, AZ USA cwalker@noao.edu 520-318-8535 AGU 2006 ED11C

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