1. Regarding summer institutes: I have seen advertised just such an institute at
Penn State; get information at their website at www.astro.psu.edu/outreach/psiwa
2. Attend the meeting of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in Toronto in
early July. They will have lots of meetings and activities designed
specifically for K-12 teachers.
3. "Journey to the Cosmic Frontier", John D. Fix, published by Mosby; 2nd
edition on the way. Based on the popular intro astronomy course he taught at
the Univ. of Iowa (I TA'd for it).
Philip Zell
zell@act.org
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Suggestions for new astronomy class
Author: "phys-l@lists.nau.edu: Forum for Physics Educators"
<PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU> at Internet
Date: 4/6/99 1:15 PM
Next spring I will be teaching a half-year course in introductory
astronomy to high school juniors and seniors. I have been teaching high
school physics for nine years but have never taught astronomy other than
where astro topics come up in physics classes.
I am working on a proposal for some development money from my school
(natch) and looking for suggestions.
1) Summer course suggestions -- can anyone recommend a summer institute
which might be helpful to me? My background in astronomy includes one
undergraduate class and recreational reading on my part. I need to learn
(re-learn?) some basic observing techniques, among other things.
2) activity/resource suggestions -- I'd love to hear suggestions also on
other resources for teachers that people have found useful. I want
something that is probably impossible: a relatively hands-on
activity-oriented class with a minimum of nighttime work (I live over 1/2
hr from my schol) . I want to do some direct observing, but I am also
thinking about simulations, in-class spectroscopy experiments, analysis of
astronomical data available on the web....
3) text suggestions -- Any texts that people particularly like?
4) Reference books -- I am writing this note at the kind suggestion of
Donald Simanek who has already sold his pile of old astro books by the
time I reached him. If you have older texts, resource books, equipment
etc that you think might be useful for a first-time astro teacher and
you'd be willing to sell them, please let me know.
Feel free to respond directly to me if you are so inclined -- I don't want
to clutter the list.
Many thanks
David Strasburger
David_Strasburger@nobles.edu
781/326-3700 x319
Noble & Greenough School
10 Campus Drive
Dedham Mass
02026