Teaching Interplanetary Distances Using a Human Solar System

Dr. Michael Dunham is an assistant professor in the physics department at SUNY Fredonia. He holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. in astronomy from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.S. in physics and astronomy from the University of Rochester. In this post, he shares how he shows students the size and scale …

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Classroom Resources: Two Active-Learning Explorations for Introductory Astronomy

What activities do you incorporate to flip your classroom? Tabitha Buehler, Associate Professor (Lecturer), Physics And Astronomy at the University of Utah, shares one hands-on activity she incorporates into her intro astronomy classroom. This post originally appeared in Teaching Astronomy by Doing Astronomy. I consider my introductory astronomy class ("The Universe") at the University of …

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Using Videogames to Engage Students in Astronomy Lab

Nicole Gugliucci, assistant professor of astronomy at Saint Anselm College, shares her experience incorporating At Play in the Cosmos: The Videogame into her classroom. I’m not at all what you would call a gamer. The most frequently used app on my phone is probably the one with crossword puzzles. Like a lot of millennials, when I was a kid I dabbled in …

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Making Science Accessible: A Conversation with Astronomy Author Adam Frank

Astronomy: At Play in the Cosmos author Adam Frank sat down with the astronomy team to tell us a little about his research and why he is passionate about getting nonscientists excited about science. Adam is a professor of astrophysics at the University of Rochester. Norton Astronomy: Why did you want to write a textbook for …

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Orchestrating Active Learning in a Less-than-Ideal Environment

Stacy Palen is an award-winning professor in the physics department and director of the Ott Planetarium at Weber State University. Dr. Palen is passionate about teaching astronomy, and presents tips on creating an active learning environment below. Image Credit: Zac Williams Somehow or other, classroom architects in the 1960s, 1970s, and as far along as …

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