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Intro Scientific program List of topics SOC Attendees Abstracts
 
List of topics

List of topics

Some of these topics were considered in the Special Session at the 25 th General Assembly in Sydney, the subject of a book published in 2005. Jay M. Pasachoff and John Percy, Teaching and Learning of Astronomy: Effective Strategies for Educators Worldwide (Cambridge University Press, 2005): hardback (ISBN: 052184262X | ISBN-13:9780521842624). But it is necessary to continue and extend the work started then in order to increase the quality and quantity of astronomy in schools.

Proposed major themes, with some suggested speakers:

THEME 1: General strategies for effective teaching

  • Introducing new results from astronomy education research
  • Presenting classical topics using more simplified methods
  • Latest breakthroughs in astronomical knowledge teaching at school levels
  • Connecting astronomy with the environment
  • Using interdisciplinary presentations
  • Mixing with cultural background and/or the history of astronomy

Suggested speakers

  • Paul Baki (Kenya): Spreading astronomy education through Africa
  • Edward Kononovich (Russia): The Earth’s life inside the solar atmosphere
  • Jay M.Pasachoff (USA): Eclipses as projects to involve students in astronomy observations
  • Case Rijsdijk (South Africa): Optimizing astronomy education resources in a developing country
  • Rosa M. Ros (Spain): New ideas for teaching astronomy topics
  • Guilles Theureau (France): New teaching/learning ideas
  • John R. Percy (Canada): Learning science by doing science
  • Isobe Syuzo (Japan): Does the Sun around the Earth or does the Earth rotate around the Sun?
  • Timothy Slater (USA): Revitalizing astronomy teaching through research on student understanding
  • Magda Stavinischi (Romania): Astronomy and culture
  • Margarita Metaxa (Greece): Light pollution

THEME 2: Effective Use of Instruction and Information Technology

  • Information on newly implemented facilities, including remote observing that allows school students to use telescopes in other time zones and in better observing locations
  • Modern technology as a tool for current teaching/learning
  • Availabilities of new technologies in different schools
  • Future education and public information projects from astronomical institutions (such as NASA, ESA, and major ground-based observatories) involving schools
  • Making new designs available in planetariums, both digital and opto-mechanical

Suggested speakers

  • Paul O'Brien (UK): Faulkes Telescopes in both hemispheres
  • Michael Bennett (USA): The role of amateurs in both classroom and informal education
  • Bambang Hidayat (Indonesia): Expertise needed to create motivation for space science
  • Claus Madsen (ESO): ALMA ITP, new materials for astronomy borders
  • Robert Stencel (USA): Practical opportunities for amateur-professional collaboration
  • Rick Fienberg (USA): title????
  • Helen Wilson (ESA, the Netherlands): ESA educational materials for schools

THEME 3: Connecting astronomy with the environment (light pollution, etc.)

  • Role of Public Information Offices of observatories and space missions
  • Planetarium attendance and astronomical content
  • Television and radio media
  • Interaction with 2006 as the International Year of Physics
  • 2009 International Year of Astronomy

Suggested speakers

  • Lars Lindberg Christensen (ESA/ESO): Spreading the word efficiently - The role of public information offices
  • Anthony Fairall (New Zealand): Seeing beyond the naked eye in a planetarium
  • Julieta Fierro (Mexico): How to carry out an astronomy outreach program
  • John Huchra (USA): 2009 International Year of Astronomy
  • Nick Lomb (Australia): Teaching astronomy and the crisis in science education

THEME 4: Practical issues connected with the implementation of the 2003 IAU Resolution

  • What is the situation in various countries, three years later, for implementing the resolution?
  • What is interesting or unique about education systems in various countries?
  • New suggestions after three years of experience

Suggested speakers

  • Jose Maza (Chile): Astronomy program in Chile
  • Silvia Torres (Mexico): A new astronomy display on the Sciences Museum of the University of Mexico
  • M. Cristina Pineda de Cavias (Honduras): Astronomy for everybody: An approach from the CACS/UNAH view
  • M. Luisa Aguilar (Peru): title?
  • Ahmed Abdel Hady (Egypt): Education in Egypt and Egyptian response to eclipses
IAU 2005