Why astronomy should be taught in high school and how it can benefit mathematics education

By Doug Edsey

If I were again beginning my studies, I would follow the advice of Plato and start with mathematics. - Galileo Galilei

Overview

Why should we study astronomy and space exploration and why should we invest in it as a nation?

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

What can it do for mathematics education?

What is the current status of high school astronomy education?

What barriers exist in promoting high school astronomy education and how can we overcome them?

Why study astronomy and
space exploration?
Why invest in it as a nation?

Scientific knowledge

Why study astronomy and
space exploration?
Why invest in it as a nation?

Spin-off technologies have applications in other fields

Why study astronomy and
space exploration?
Why invest in it as a nation?

Opportunities for international cooperation

Why study astronomy and
space exploration?
Why invest in it as a nation?

Great ROI both academically and financiallyRelatively few astronomers, but their research can be quite significant

Contrary to public perception, NASA's budget is only 0.5% of America's annual budget When you innovate, you create new industries that then boost your economy. And when you create new industries and that becomes part of your culture, your jobs cant go overseas because no one else has figured out how to do it yet. Neil deGrasse Tyson

Why study astronomy and
space exploration?
Why invest in it as a nation?

Other sciences benefit from synergyExample: on board the ISS, experiments are done in biology, biomedical research, biotechnology, physics, meteorology, materials science, and combustion science, and other fields

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

It is a gateway into science

Teaches content not offered elsewhere in high school

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

Teaches applications of high school science and math

Students have requested it!

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

Has a positive impact on most students who take it

Fosters the wonder and excitement to build upcoming scientists and thinkers

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

It may help the AYP status of a school

To make our educational system more competitive internationally

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

It would add an additional science elective

Or it could be added as a 4th year science course

It is interdisciplinary and can function as a capstone course

What is the importance of offering astronomy courses at the high school level?

It may be the last opportunity we have to turn kids on to science

Astronomy can be a lifelong practice!Unlike other sciences, amateur astronomers regularly contribute to the field!

What can it do for mathematics education?

First, some common criticisms of or issues with American mathematics education (K-12)Math WarsA heated debate over the past 20 years concerning the classroom approach of teaching mathematics: teacher-centered vs. student-centered.

Lack of integration with science education

Lack of immediate and relevant applications

What can it do for mathematics education?

Regarding the Math Wars...63% of current high school astronomy courses are inquiry based

Those that aren't still typically include student-centered activities and labs

Math is already a component of these courses, so it can be taught by inquiry without fueling the fire of the math wars.

What can it do for mathematics education?

Regarding integration with science education...Standard high school math education:Algebra 1

Geometry

Algebra 2

Pre-calculus and trigonometry (time-permitting)

Mathematics used in high school astronomy:Algebra

Geometry

Trigonometry

What can it do for mathematics education?

Inquiry

Protractors, rulers, Calc.

Numbers, patterns, & percentages

Averages

Time, distance, speed

Areas and volumes

Scale drawings

Geometry

Probability

Sci. Not., Logs, exps

Unit conversions

Fractions

Graph or table analysis

Solving for x

Evaluating functions

Modeling

Trigonometry

Pythagorean Theorem

Vectors

Limits, integrals, derivatives, gradients (advanced)

More specifically, mathematics topics learned and applied in high school astronomy include:

What can it do for mathematics education?

Regarding immediate and relevant applications of mathematics...Here is a course outline from a syllabus of an astronomy course at a High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Course Outline Example

1. Introduction to Astronomy a. Scaling b. Scientific Notation c. SI Review distances in space d. age of the universe e. speed of light f. star maps g. motions in the sky h. lunar phases i. eclipses j. Earths shape & size k. theories of the universe l. classical astronomy m. history of space exploration n. heat & temperature o. planetary configurations

2. Gravity & Motion a. Speed & velocity b. Acceleration and gs c. Newtons Laws d. Centripetal force e. Universal gravitation f. Mass of orbited bodies g. Escape & orbital velocities

3. Light a. definition b. wave terminology c. wave energy d. Doppler effect e. Weins Law f. color theory g. EM spectrum h. light spectra

4. Telescopes a. types of telescopes b. optics c. nonvisible wavelengths d. false color e. atmospheric windows

5. Project Research

6. The Solar System a. The Earth b. The Moon & The Space Race c. Solar System Overview d. Inner Planets e. Outer Planets & Dwarfs f. Asteroids, Meteors, & Comets g. The Sun

8) Beyond the Solar System a. Star properties b. Stellar life cycles c. Milky Way & other galaxies d. Cosmology

What can it do for mathematics education?

NASA has an entire website dedicated to space math which includes lessons, activities, and homework problems for teachers (K-12) to use either in their math or science classrooms! http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/

NASA has another similar website dedicated entirely to space science educationhttp://teachspacescience.org/cgi-bin/ssrtop.plex

The current status of high school astronomy education

Stats on availability and popularity12% of US high schools offer astronomy courses

3.5% of high schools student take astronomy, this is about 80,000 kids a year

Stats on astronomy teachersMost have a science background (physics or earth & space science)

Most have masters degrees

Structure of the courseUsually all-inclusive with a focus on traditional astronomy over contemporary astronomy

Few high school textbooks exist, so web resources are often used

What barriers exist in promoting high school astronomy education and how can we overcome them?

No teacher = no courseMore teachers, and preferably more trained teachers

Few astronomy majors go into high school teaching

No state certification for teaching astronomy

SolutionsWe need to find teachers who would want to teach it

We need to find or create training for non-college astronomy teachers so that they can be HQ'ed

Online certification programs might be a good start University of Wyoming

What barriers exist in promoting high school astronomy education and how can we overcome them?

We need students interested in taking a course to be in a position to actually take the courseInterest in the subject by high school students is documented as being very high, BUT...

Students are typically pushed into the 3 major sciences and other electives. (Doesn't carry the weight of an AP class either)

Class schedules and other requirements don't often allow students to make room for extra science classes

SolutionsPromote the course in school with brochures or guest lectures in the other sciences

Make astronomy a 4th year course (but then it will have no effect on high stakes testing)

Coordinate with colleges for college credit

What barriers exist in promoting high school astronomy education and how can we overcome them?

Approval by higher levels of administration (local, district, or state)An astronomy course may be looked at as filler or fluff

SolutionsThere are national standards that include astronomy as well as many state standards

If necessary, an astronomy course can be viewed as another physics or earth science course

Astronomy reinforces prior learning which makes it a great capstone course

Possibly improves AYP scores (provided students can take it before testing)

Some final thoughts from a student

Astronomys not a course where you say OK, today were going to learn some random facts about stuff that if youre not going into organic chemistry like the hydrocarbons, or youre not going into quantum physics or nuclear physics or anything, then you dont need to know about it. But astronomy, it teaches you where you are, whats going on around you and everything like that. Its just such a course thats necessary, because you need to know these things. You need to know your neighbors, you need to know whos up and down your street, you like to know whos in your country, why not know your solar system, why not know your sun, your neighbor planets and the galaxy were in and all that. And the universe that you live in. Its a pretty big deal, and were a part of it.Scott, grade 11

References and Links

The Modern U.S. High School Astronomy Course, its Status and Makeup, and the Effects of No Child Left Behind, By Larry Krumenaker, Astronomy Education Review, 2009

The Modern U.S. High School Astronomy Course, Its Status and Makeup II: Additional Results, By Larry Krumenaker, Astronomy Education Review, 2009

What It Would Take to Increase the Number of High School Astronomy Courses: A Survey of Principals and a Comparison to Astronomy Teachers, and a Prescription for Change, By Larry Krumenaker, Astronomy Education Review, 2009

Astronomy and Astrophysics Panel Reports, National Academies Press, 1991

Why Should We Teach Astronomy in High Schools? podcast, hosted by Colin Jagoe, http://365daysofastronomy.org/

http://nasa.gov/

http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/

http://teachspacescience.org/