Teaching Teachers the Teaching of Physics
and Astronomy: A Summer Workshop
Presented by Harold Geller
hgeller@gmu.edu
Department of Physics and Astronomy
George Mason University
At the Chesapeake Section of the American
Association of Physics Teachers
Fall 2007 Section Meeting
2,3 November 2007 at
Radford University
What I’ll Talk About
• Astronomy Workshop for Teachers at
George Mason University held both in 2006
and 2007
• What worked?
• What didn’t work?
• Assessments
• Teacher Comments from 2006
• Why Important?
iClicker Question
What is the name of the speaker?
• A Ehrlich
• B Hennig
• C Sterling
• D Geller
• E Einstein
Teacher Workshops in 2006 and 2007
• What
– Teacher workshops geared for junior and high school
science teachers
• Who
– Run by Harold Geller (George Mason University) and
Lee Ann Hennig (Thomas Jefferson High School)
• When
– Two weeks in the Summers of 2006 and 2007, with 2
meetings in the fall 2006 and 2007 as follow-up
presentations
• Where
– George Mason University (also offered at University
of Virginia)
From Course Webpages – Then and Now
George Mason University (GMU)
College of Science (COS)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
and
College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
Office of Adult Learning and Professional Development (OALPD)
ASTR 590: Special Topics in Astronomy
Astronomy for Teachers
Summer 2006 (with 2 fall follow-up sessions TBD)
MTWHF 10AM-3PM; with evening sessions in observatory as weather permits
August 7-11;14-18; 2 follow-up sessions TBD
Room IN 323 and GMU Observatory (if available)
2007
2006
George Mason University (GMU)
College of Science (COS)
Department of Physics and Astronomy
and
College of Education and Human Development (CEHD)
Office of Adult Learning and Professional Development (OALPD)
ASTR 590: Special Topics in Astronomy
Astronomy for Teachers
Summer 2007 with 2 fall follow-up sessions TBD
MTWHF 10AM-3PM; with evening sessions in observatory as weather permits
August 6-10;13-17; 2 follow-up sessions in Fall TBD
Room IN 323 and GMU Observatory
iClicker Question
• What years were the workshops run at
GMU?
• A 2001 and 2002
• B 2002 and 2003
• C 2006 and 2007
• D 2005 and 2006
• E It’s a hoax, there were never any
workshops, just like no one ever stepped
foot on the Moon.
From Course Webpages – Then and Now
CoInstructor: Harold Geller
Phone:
703-993-1276
FAX:
703-993-1269
E-mail:
hgeller@gmu.edu
Address:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, MS 3F3
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
CoInstructor: Lee Ann Hennig
Phone:
703-750-8380
FAX:
703-750-5010
E-mail:
LeeAnn.Hennig@fcps.edu
Address:
Astronomy/Planetarium
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology
6560 Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 22312
2006
CoInstructor: Harold Geller
Phone: 703-993-1276
FAX: 703-993-1269
E-mail: hgeller@gmu.edu
Address: Department of Physics and
Astronomy, MS 3F3
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
CoInstructor: Lee Ann Hennig
Phone: 703-750-8380
FAX: 703-750-5010
E-mail: LeeAnn.Hennig@fcps.edu
Address: Astronomy/Planetarium
Thomas Jefferson High School for
Science & Technology
6560 Braddock Road
Alexandria, VA 22312
2007
From Course Webpages – Then and Now
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Participants will review astronomy concepts, focusing on the concepts which appear in the Virginia Standards of
Learning (SOL). Workshop participants will utilize innovative activities for teaching students physical concepts
required of students to comprehend astronomy related natural phenomena such as the appearance of the night
time sky, reasons for the seasons, phases of the Moon, motion of the stars and planets, surface features of the
Moon, and nature of eclipses.
COURSE PURPOSE AND INTENDED AUDIENCE:
This is an intensive two week long professional development workshop for teachers in the grades 6-12. There will
be two follow-up sessions in the Fall 2006 (dates to be set). This workshop will aid teachers in comprehending
and developing lesson plans to address astronomy concepts that are part of the Virginia Standards of Learning.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Participants will review astronomy concepts, focusing on the concepts which appear in the Virginia Standards of
Learning (SOL). Workshop participants will utilize innovative activities for teaching students physical concepts
required of students to comprehend astronomy related natural phenomena such as the appearance of the night
time sky, reasons for the seasons, phases of the Moon, motion of the stars and planets, surface features of the
Moon, and nature of eclipses.
COURSE PURPOSE AND INTENDED AUDIENCE:
This is an intensive two week long professional development workshop for teachers in the grades 6-12. There will
be two follow-up sessions in the Fall 2007 (dates to be set). This workshop will aid teachers in comprehending
and developing lesson plans to address astronomy concepts that are part of the Virginia Standards of Learning.
From Course Webpages – Then and Now
COURSE FORMAT:
The workshop will address astronomy concepts utilizing lectures, group activities, laboratory exercises and open
class discussions. Lectures will consist of various forms of presentation material including videos, computer
displays, demonstrations and transparencies. Questions are acceptable at all times. Participants should be alert
during the lecture and prepared to answer queries posed as they arise. Class activities are collaborative efforts of
three or four participants. Each participant will hand in a write-up for each class activity. Class activity sessions
will consist of both computer-based exercises and hands-on exercises. Activity reports will be turned in at the
conclusion of each class meeting.
OUTCOMES:
After attending this workshop teachers will be able to explain and develop lesson plans for use in their classrooms
to explain the appearance of the night time sky; explain the reasons for the seasons; explain the phases of the
Moon; explain the motion of the stars and planets; explain the surface features of the Moon; and explain the
nature of eclipses
COURSE FORMAT:
The workshop will address astronomy concepts utilizing lectures, group activities, laboratory exercises and open
class discussions. Lectures will consist of various forms of presentation material including videos, computer
displays, demonstrations and transparencies. Questions are acceptable at all times. Participants should be alert
during the lecture and prepared to answer queries posed as they arise. Class activities are collaborative efforts of
three or four participants. Each participant will hand in a write-up for each class activity. Class activity sessions will
consist of both computer-based exercises and hands-on exercises. Activity reports will be turned in at the
conclusion of each class meeting.
OUTCOMES:
After attending this workshop teachers will be able to explain and develop lesson plans for use in their classrooms
to explain the appearance of the night time sky; explain the reasons for the seasons; explain the phases of the
Moon; explain the motion of the stars and planets; explain the surface features of the Moon; and explain the
nature of eclipses.
From Course Webpages – Then and Now
REQUIRED TEXT and SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITY MATERIALS:
The required textbook for this course (provided to participants) is Foundations of Astronomy by Michael A. Seeds,
9th edition with Starry Night CD-ROM. Supplemental activity materials for this course (provided to participants)
includes the Mag 5 Star Atlas (from Scientifics Online); a Diffraction Grating Film Sheet 12" x 6" (from Scientifics
Online); a Cardboard Spectrometer Kit (from Learning Technologies Inc. (LTI)); a Celestial Sphere Kit (from LTI);
the Cycles Book (from LTI); a Miller Planisphere (from Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP)); and a Solar
Motion Demonstrator Kit (from ASP).
GRADING RUBRIC:
Description
Weighting
Class Activities
60%
Final Examination
20%
Follow-up Session
20%
REQUIRED TEXT and SUPPLEMENTAL ACTIVITY MATERIALS:
The required textbook for this course (provided to participants) is Foundations of Astronomy by Michael A. Seeds, 9th edition with
Starry Night CD-ROM. Supplemental activity materials for this course (provided to participants) includes the Mag 5 Star Atlas (from
Scientifics Online); a Diffraction Grating Film Sheet 12" x 6" (from Scientifics Online); a Cardboard Spectrometer Kit (from Learning
Technologies Inc. (LTI)); a Celestial Sphere Kit (from LTI); the Cycles Book (from LTI); a Miller Planisphere (from Astronomical
Society of the Pacific (ASP)); and a Solar Motion Demonstrator Kit (from ASP).
GRADING RUBRIC:
Weighting
Description
Class Activities
50%
Class Participation
10% (see http://www.iClicker.com)
Final Examination
20%
Follow-up Sessions
20%
From Course Webpage 2006
Date
Topic/Learning Experiences
In Class Activity
Readings
7 August 2006
Preliminaries:
Chapter 1 and Appendix A
Contract Course Enrollment Forms
Contract Course Information Overview
Payment and Receipt for Payment
Lunch Passes
CAER Introductory Astronomy Survey and Pre-test
Harvard General Astronomy Pre-Test and Survey
Virginia SOL Astronomy Questions Pre-test
Scale of the Cosmos – Time and
Distance Measures
Mathematical Tools Review
Solar System Scale Model Activity
8 August 2006
The Sky – Constellations and the
Celestial Sphere
Miller Planisphere Activity
Chapter 2 pages 12-22
1300 JC Rm G – Astronomy Journal Club (see
presentations by graduate students)
Telescope Observing Session - weather
permitted to observe Jupiter and its
Galilean Moons, the Moon, the Ring
Nebula, and more
9 August 2006
The Sky – The Sun and the Seasons
Mag 5 Star Atlas
Celestial Sphere Activity
Solar Motion Demonstrator Kit
Guest Speaker Heather Weir, NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center
Chapter 2 pages 22-27
From Course Webpage 2006
10 August 2006
The Sky – Motion of the Planets
Cycles and Starry Night Activity
Guest Speaker, Greg Redfern, NASA
JPL Planetary Ambassador
Telescope Observing Session (weather
will not permit - cancelled)
Chapter 2 pages 25-32
11 August 2006
Cycles of the Moon – The Phases
Guest Speaker Steve Berr, Learning
Technologies Inc. (demonstration of
StarLab Planetariums)
Chapter 3 pages 36-41
14 August 2006
Cycles of the Moon – Eclipses
Cycles
Moons of Jupiter Activity
Chapter 3 pages 42-55
15 August 2006
Origins of Modern Astronomy
Guest Speaker Art Poland, NASA
Goddard Space Flight Center (retired),
former Project Scientist SOHO,
research faculty, GMU
GMU Observing Session (weather not
permitting - CANCELLED)
Chapter 4
16 August 2006
Newton, Einstein and Gravity
Geller Presentation and complete
activity (Jupiter’s Moons)
Guest Speaker Bob Ehrlich, author and
physics professor, GMU
Chapter 5
From Course Webpage 2006
17 August 2006
Light and Telescopes
Reflection Activity
Refraction Activity
Diffraction Grating Handouts
GMU Observing Session (starting at
8:30 PM)
Chapter 6 pages 108-122
18 August 2006
Light and Telescopes
Spectrometer Activity
Closing Paperwork
Chapter 6 pages 122-135
CAER Introductory Astronomy Survey and Post-test
Harvard General Astronomy Post-Test and Survey
Virginia SOL Astronomy Questions Post-test
Course Evaluations
Fall 2006
(TBD)
Saturday Fall Follow-up Session
Workshop participant presentations
Lesson plan presentations
developed by participants
Fall 2006
(TBD)
Saturday Fall Follow-up Session
Workshop participant presentations
Student results from lesson
plans used in class (preand post- test results)
iClicker Question
• What was the biggest difference between
the two workshops run at GMU?
• A The number of days.
• B The days of the week utilized.
• C The computer usage.
• D The personal response system.
• E The use of guest speakers.
From Course Webpage 2007
Date
Topic/Learning Experiences
In Class Activity
Readings
6 August
2007
Preliminaries:
Chapter 1 and
Appendix A
Contract Course Enrollment Forms
Contract Course Information Overview
Payment and Receipt for Payment
Lunch Passes
CAER Introductory Astronomy Survey and Pre-test
Harvard General Astronomy Pre-Test and Survey
Virginia SOL Astronomy Questions Pre-test
Scale of the Cosmos - Time
and Distance Measures
Mathematical Tools Review
Solar System Scale Model
Activity
7 August
2007
The Sky - Constellations and
the Celestial Sphere
Planisphere Activity
Telescope Observing Session weather did not permit
Chapter 2 pages 12-22
8 August
2007
The Sky - The Sun and the
Seasons
Guest Speaker, Greg Redfern,
NASA
Mag 5 Star Atlas
Celestial Sphere Activity
Chapter 2 pages 22-27
From Course Webpage 2007
9 August
2007
The Sky - Motion of the Planets
Cycles and Starry Night Activity
Telescope Observing Session
(weather did not permit cancelled)
Chapter 2 pages 25-32
10 August
2007
Cycles of the Moon ? The
Phases of the Moon
The Sun and the Seasons
Demonstration of StarLab
Planetarium
Chapter 3 pages 36-41
13 August
2007
Cycles of the Moon - Eclipses
Introduction to Origins of the
Universe
Quick Review of Eclipses
Moons of Jupiter Activity
Chapter 3 pages 42-55
14 August
2007
Origins of Modern Astronomy
Geller Presentation on
Development of Modern
Astronomy
Guest Speaker, Heather Weir,
NASA GSFC on MESSENGER,
LRO and New Horizons
GMU Observing Session
(weather did not permit)
Chapter 4
15 August
2007
Our Star, the Sun
Geller Presentation on the Sun
Complete CLEA Sun activities
Observe the Sun
Chapter 5
From Course Webpage 2007
16 August
2007
Light and Telescopes
Geller Presentation on
Electromagnetic Radiation
Guest Speaker, Dr. Joe
Weingartner (GMU) on the Dusty
Universe
Reflection Activity
Refraction Activity
Diffraction Grating Handouts
GMU Observing Session (rain observing session cancelled)
Chapter 6 pages 108122
17 August
2007
Light and Telescopes
Geller Presentation on
Astrobiology
Spectrometer Activity
Closing Paperwork
Chapter 6 pages 122135
CAER Introductory Astronomy Survey and Posttest
Harvard General Astronomy Post-Test and Survey
Virginia SOL Astronomy Questions Post-test
13 October
2007
Saturday Fall Follow-up
Session
Workshop participant
presentations
Lesson plan
presentations
developed by
participants
1 December
2007
Saturday Fall Follow-up
Session
Workshop participant
presentations
Student results from
lesson plans used in
class (pre- and posttest results)
iClicker Question
• The demonstration of a portable
planetarium system was excluded from the
latest teacher workshop?
• A True
• B False
From Course Webpages
• Also on course webpage
– http://physics.gmu.edu/~hgeller/TeacherWorkshop/
• Links to all of the vendors that provided the
handout materials
• Links to the presentations made during the two
week summer period of the class
• Links to additional web-pages that may be
useful to the participants
• Links to the tests used as pre-tests and posttests
What Worked Especially Well
• Free handouts to the teachers
• Guest speakers (from NASA GSFC, JPL, and
GMU)
• Activities (some were more difficult than others)
• Team work with Lee Ann Hennig and me
• Use of pre- and post- tests from Harvard, CAER
and UVa excerpts from SOLs
• Starlab portable planetarium demonstration
• Computer laboratory exercises
– CLEA and Starry Night especially so
• Personal response system
– Teachers stayed awake and focused without emailing too much
What Didn’t Work Too Well
• Some teachers wanted more technical
• Some teachers wanted more specific to SOL questions
• Observing sessions held at night in 2006
– Observatory not available for use in 2006
• Teachers did get to see Moon and planets outdoors in 2006
• Teachers did get to the observatory in 2007
• Some teachers felt they traveled too far
• Some teachers didn’t like the requirement of two followup sessions
– GMU Education department has data that they are necessary
– National study indicated that if no follow-up sessions, average
knowledge latency is ~ 2days
• Technical support issues
iClicker Question
• Who was not a speaker at either teacher
workshop?
• A Art Poland
• B Joe Weingartner
• C Bob Ehrlich
• D Heather Bloemhard
• E Heather Weir
Assessments
• Based upon a combination of three standard tests
– CAER Introductory Astronomy Survey (formerly the Astronomy
Diagnostic Tool version 2.0)
– Harvard General Astronomy Test
– Virginia SOL Questions related to astronomy
•
•
•
•
•
Pre-test average of scores was 72% in 2006
Post-test average of scores was 82% in 2006
Pre-test average of scores was 69% in 2007
Post-test average of scores was 76% in 2007
EVERY INDIVIDUAL SCORE INCREASED but one,
from pre-testing compared to post-testing
– See graphic on next slide
Assessment of Teacher Learning in Workshop From Pre-tests and Post-tests
Pre-test Grade
Post-test Grade
100.00%
90.00%
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Student Number
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
2007 Grades in Teacher Workshop
Pre-Test Data
Post-Test Data
100.00%
90.00%
Score on Composite Standardized Test
80.00%
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
1
2
3
4
5
Teacher
6
7
8
9
Teacher Comments
• Teacher feedback via standard George Mason
University course evaluations in 2006
• Scored on a Likert scale of 1-5
–
–
–
–
–
–
Instructor preparation
Course organization
Instructor motivation
Intellectual challenge
Instructor fairness
Overall course rating
Mean Score 4.93 /5
Mean Score 4.81 /5
Mean Score 4.69 /5
Mean Score 4.20 /5
Mean Score 4.94 /5
Mean Score 4.75 /5
• Room on course evaluations for comments
– (see next slides)
iClicker Question
• There was only improvement on
assessments in the earlier year.
• A False
• B True
Teacher Comments (Positive)
• Positive
– Great speakers
– Great resources
– Kept target audience in mind
– Organization of learning
– Visualizations and hands-on learning
– Good activities to demonstrate concepts
– Excellent team teaching approach
– Provided hands on materials to use in class
Teacher Comments (Negative)
• Negative
– Gear more to Virginia SOLs
• Add more content from SOL ES.14
– This was done in 2007
• Correlate better with Virginia earth science material
– 2007 had more teachers from lower grades
– Start later in day so no need to return for observing sessions in
the evening
– Have more night time observing sessions
• Others didn’t want any
– Make it more of a challenge
• Make it more intellectually challenging
• Make it less challenging
– Have a review specifically for the final
– Have better test questions
Results from Fall Follow Ups
• Teachers presented their lesson plans
• Not all teachers present
– Hard to find date that all can be present
– Those not in attendance had to videotape their presentation and
send it in to me
• Wide variance in efforts in lesson plans
• One in particular was cause for concern
– Would lead students to believe that phases of Moon caused by
shadow
– Teacher response was “I don’t care if they understand the
abstract concept, I just want them to get it right on the SOLs and
this will help them do just that”
• Follow up session #2 had teachers present results of
their use of their prepared lesson plans with pre- and
post-test results from their students
– Resistance from students and teachers to pre- post- testing
Conclusions from the Summer Teacher Workshop
• More workshops are needed and they ideally
should be over a longer period of time
– This flies in the face that teachers don’t have time
available
• Teachers can whine as much as students
– Can’t gear one workshop for all teachers
• Many are at different levels themselves
• Need both hands-on activities and lecture format
– Teachers like students have different learning styles
• If time is short don’t build materials during
activities, let teachers take home and use the
already built materials that are available in the
astronomy lab (if available)
– Murphy of UVa disagrees with this
iClicker Question
What is the name of the speaker?
• A Ehrlich
• B Hennig
• C Poland
• D Geller
• E Weir