Studying
the Universe with Space Observatories:
Recent NASA missions have rapidly increased our ability to explore and understand the structure, dynamics and evolution of our universe. Mysteries from the inner workings of stars to the formation of galaxies and the beginnings of the universe itself are being unraveled with each new observation. At the same time, growth of the internet has allowed for rapid and direct dissemination of fundamental discoveries and scientific results to the public, sometimes even as they occur, and often without adequate scientific context or commentary. This course will provide the conceptual and scientific background necessary for understanding and interpreting the results of missions related to galactic and extragalactic space science. There has never been a more exciting time to become knowledgeable and involved in NASA's plan for the exploration of deep space.
Instructor
Dr. Chad L. Davies is Assistant Professor of Physics at Gordon College,
in Barnesville, GA, where he teaches both physics and astronomy and is
involved in developing innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
Chad earned his PhD in physics at the University of Florida, studying
galactic disk systems.
CREDIT: Physics 580 - 3 graduate
semester credits
PREREQUISITES: Bachelor's degree, professional teaching certificate, and
at least one year of 9-12 teaching experience.
For course scheduling and registration information, go to the National Teachers Enhancement Network.
Comparative
Planetology: Establishing a Virtual Presence in the Solar System
As viewed by the modern astronomer, the solar system is more than 70 diverse
worlds interacting as a dynamic system. This online course for K-12 in-service
teachers will focus on fundamental questions driving NASA's exploration
of the solar system: How did the solar system form? What's in it, and
how is it arranged? What does the study of other worlds (planets, moons,
asteroids. and comets) teach us about our own? How do we learn about other
worlds? How are these worlds similar and different? How do they interact,
forming mini-systems within the solar system? What are their surfaces,
atmospheres, and interiors like, and how do we know? By taking advantage
of NASA's virtual presence in the solar system, course participants will
conduct individual investigations and explore how K-12 students can use
similar tools to conduct authentic scientific inquiries. Course participants
will learn how to integrate NASA products (online images, WWW databases,
and other resources) effectively in the classroom by adapting resources
for classroom use.
Instructor
Elizabeth E. Roettger, PhD, is an astronomy education consultant with
Ed-Ventures in Chicago, Illinois. After earning her PhD in astrophysics
from John Hopkins University, she worked at both NASA's Goddard Space
Flight Center and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory studying comets and asteroids
at ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. Prior to joining Ed-Ventures,
she worked as an astronomer and public educator at the Adler Planetarium
and Astronomy Museum.
Co-instructor in this course is Donna Governor, an award-winning 5th grade teacher at Liberty Middle School in Forsyth County, GA. She has worked on several exemplary internet-based science curriculum materials development projects including the MSU CERES Project.
CREDIT: Physics 514 - 3 graduate
semester credits.
PREREQUISITES: Bachelor's degree, professional teaching certificate, and
at least one year of K-12 teaching experience.
For course scheduling and registration information, go to the National Teachers Enhancement Network.
Astrobiology
for Teachers
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and destiny
of life in the universe. It defines itself as an interdisciplinary science
at the intersection of physics, astronomy, biology, geology, and mathematics,
to discover where and under what conditions life can arise and exist in the
universe. The course topics will cover the discovery of planetary systems
around other stars, the nature of habitable zones around distant stars,
the existence of life in extreme environments including the hydrothermal
ecosystems of Yellowstone National Park and the cryogenic ecosystems of
Antarctica. These concepts will serve as a foundation to study possible
extraterrestrial ecosystems on objects like Mars and Europa. Students will
also investigate the methods used in the ongoing search for extra-terrestrial
intelligence (SETI). The overarching theme of the course will be to align the
teaching of astrobiology concepts with the National Science Education Standards
and the NASA Roadmap for Astrobiology Research. Sponsored by NASA Astrobiology
Institute.
Instructor
Dr. Ed Prather is a member of the Conceptual Astronomy and Physics Education
Research (CAPER) Team at the University of Arizona, Steward Observatory.
Prior to his current position, he was the Astrobiology Projects Coordinator
for the CERES Project, at Montana State University. Dr. Prather received
his Ph.D. in Physics Education from the University of Maine.
CREDIT: Physics 582 - 3 graduate
semester credits.
PREREQUISITES: Bachelor's degree; one year of experience teaching science;
college level biology and college level physics or astronomy. Students
must currently be teaching science at the middle or high school level.
For course scheduling and registration information, go to the National Teachers Enhancement Network.
The
Invisible Universe Online: The Search for Astronomical Origins
The Invisible Universe Online covers the long chain of events from the
birth of the universe in the Big Bang, through the formation of galaxies,
stars, and planets by focusing on the scientific questions, technological
challenges, and space missions pursing the search for origins in alignment
with the goals and emphasis of the National Science Education Standards.
This course builds upon your
existing astronomy knowledge and adds layers of understanding so that
you have a deeper appreciation for the multiwavelength universe. In addition,
many of our homework activities and discussions focus on teaching course
concepts as a method to enhance your deeper understandings of the content.
It is not necessary that you teach astronomy at this point in your career,
only that you are open to critically thinking about how this content can
be best taught to deal with learner misconceptions.
Instructor
Dr. Tim Slater is Associate Professor of Astronomy at The University of
Arizona Steward Observatory where he conducts research on the teaching
and learning of astronomy and space science. He served as the lead project
science director for Montana State University's CERES Project and develops
K-12 curriculum materials for astronomy that are aligned with the National
Science Education Standards. He is currently the Director of the University
of Arizona Science and Mathematics Education Center.
CREDIT: Physics 583 - 3 graduate
semester credits.
PREREQUISITES: Bachelor's degree; one year of experience teaching science;
college level biology and college level physics or astronomy. Students
must currently be teaching science at the middle or high school level.
For course scheduling and registration information, go to the National Teachers Enhancement Network.
