The undergraduate years are a turning point in producing scientifically literate citizens and future scientists and engineers. Evidence from research about how students learn science and engineering shows that teaching strategies that motivate and engage students will improve their learning. So how do students best learn science and engineering?…

This paper reviews astronomy education research carried out among school students, teachers, and museum visitors over a 35-year period from 1974 until 2008. One hundred and three peer-reviewed journal articles were examined, the majority of whose research dealt with conceptions of astronomical phenomena with 40% investigating intervention…

Suggestions for motivating gifted students in astronomy are based on J. Renzulli's Enrichment Triad Model. (CL)

Presents a derivation of Kepler's Third Law for elliptical orbits that requires students to have a knowledge of angular momentum and conservation of energy. (JRH)

The objective of this board game is for players to travel to all the planets with the winner being the first to return to Earth. Students are required to use their knowledge of the planets for the game. (JRH)

In this article, the authors explore the question, "Does the Moon spin?", and show how the question is investigated. They emphasise the importance of the process by which people work out what they know, by "learning from the inside out." They stress that those involved in science education have to challenge current conceptions and ideas, making…

Examines the development of American astronomy by discussing: general studies on the subject; early efforts through 1825; establishing foundations (1825-1875); the transitional period (1875-1945); and the space age (1945 to the present). Points out that the field is underdeveloped with a need for additional work. (JN)

Describes a method to teach introductory astronomy students about the phases of the moon. Uses video techniques to aid students in developing the skill of visualizing the same phenomenon from different frames of reference. (JRH)

Discusses topics related to high-energy, gamma-ray astronomy (including cosmic radiation, gamma-ray detectors, high-energy gamma-ray sources, and others). Also considers motivation for the development of this field, the principal results to date, and future prospects. (JN)

Describes how the Hubble Space Telescope works and how scientists repaired the spherical aberration that caused a reduction in image quality. (ZWH)

Describes the constellations that can be seen during the month of October. Presents a story about the moon phases that comes from the Australian Aborigines. (JRH)

In July of 1994, fragments of Comet Shoemaker-Levy collided with Jupiter. This document has been provided to better inform students of the work that will be done by scientists and others involved in the study of this event. This document offers some background material on Jupiter, comets, what has and possibly will happen, and how scientists…

Project ASTRO is an innovative program to support science education by linking teachers and students in grades 4-9 with amateur and professional astronomers with the overall goal being to increase students' interest in astronomy and science in general. This manual was designed for teachers, amateur and professional astronomers, youth group…

Demonstrations in astronomy classes seem to be more necessary than in physics classes for three reasons. First, many of the events are very large scale and impossibly remote from human senses. Secondly, while physics courses use discussions of one- and two-dimensional motion, three-dimensional motion is the normal situation in astronomy; thus,…

Asserting that the skills required to tell time by the Big Dipper necessitate both considerable classroom preparation and outdoor practice, this article is designed to help teachers and students prepare for both. Written for students at the fourth grade level, this article includes simple instructions and illustrations. (JC)