Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy

Introductory university astronomy courses have emerged as a powerful opportunity to improve science understanding, literacy, and appreciation of the scientific method to a wide range of future citizens and voters. Students in an introductory astronomy course were instructed to record and analyze the...

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Autores principales:	David R. Gozzard, Marjan G. Zadnik
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	American Physical Society 2021
Materias:	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Physics QC1-999
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/ca72ca3ff9274b90bab8f70d7b9e3ccd
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:ca72ca3ff9274b90bab8f70d7b9e3ccd2021-12-02T17:26:20ZContribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.17.0101342469-9896https://doaj.org/article/ca72ca3ff9274b90bab8f70d7b9e3ccd2021-05-01T00:00:00Zhttp://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.17.010134http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.17.010134https://doaj.org/toc/2469-9896Introductory university astronomy courses have emerged as a powerful opportunity to improve science understanding, literacy, and appreciation of the scientific method to a wide range of future citizens and voters. Students in an introductory astronomy course were instructed to record and analyze their naked-eye astronomical observations over a semester (13 weeks). The effect this activity had on students’ learning of basic astronomy concepts and attitudes towards astronomy and science were measured using an astronomy concept diagnostic test and attitudes survey administered at the start and at the end of the semester, and compared with a similar introductory astronomy course that did not include the observing assignment. The results suggest that the observing diary is a positive learning experience for the majority of students, and that completing this assessment assists in developing students’ deeper engagement with astronomy and astronomy concepts. We recommend the use and assessment of observing diaries as an effective learning activity in introductory astronomy classes.David R. GozzardMarjan G. ZadnikAmerican Physical SocietyarticleSpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691PhysicsQC1-999ENPhysical Review Physics Education Research, Vol 17, Iss 1, p 010134 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Physics QC1-999
spellingShingle	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Physics QC1-999 David R. Gozzard Marjan G. Zadnik Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
description	Introductory university astronomy courses have emerged as a powerful opportunity to improve science understanding, literacy, and appreciation of the scientific method to a wide range of future citizens and voters. Students in an introductory astronomy course were instructed to record and analyze their naked-eye astronomical observations over a semester (13 weeks). The effect this activity had on students’ learning of basic astronomy concepts and attitudes towards astronomy and science were measured using an astronomy concept diagnostic test and attitudes survey administered at the start and at the end of the semester, and compared with a similar introductory astronomy course that did not include the observing assignment. The results suggest that the observing diary is a positive learning experience for the majority of students, and that completing this assessment assists in developing students’ deeper engagement with astronomy and astronomy concepts. We recommend the use and assessment of observing diaries as an effective learning activity in introductory astronomy classes.
format	article
author	David R. Gozzard Marjan G. Zadnik
author_facet	David R. Gozzard Marjan G. Zadnik
author_sort	David R. Gozzard
title	Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
title_short	Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
title_full	Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
title_fullStr	Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
title_full_unstemmed	Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
title_sort	contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy
publisher	American Physical Society
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/ca72ca3ff9274b90bab8f70d7b9e3ccd
work_keys_str_mv	AT davidrgozzard contributionofselfdirectednakedeyeobservationstostudentsconceptualunderstandingandattitudestowardsastronomy AT marjangzadnik contributionofselfdirectednakedeyeobservationstostudentsconceptualunderstandingandattitudestowardsastronomy
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Contribution of self-directed, naked-eye observations to students’ conceptual understanding and attitudes towards astronomy

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