Conceptual Astronomy

Conceptual Astronomy
Author: Michael Zeilik
Publisher: Wiley
Total Pages: 512
Release: 1993-01-12
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780471509967

Uses an innovative, imaginative approach to the subject, stressing scientific model making. Develops concepts from the concrete to the abstract, resulting in a traditional earth to universe organization. Identifies 25 basic issues which tie astronomer's current view of the universe together. End-of-chapter summaries unite key terms to key ideas in order to reinforce their relationships for students.

Astronomy Across Cultures

Astronomy Across Cultures
Author: Helaine Selin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 678
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9401141797

Astronomy Across Cultures: A History of Non-Western Astronomy consists of essays dealing with the astronomical knowledge and beliefs of cultures outside the United States and Europe. In addition to articles surveying Islamic, Chinese, Native American, Aboriginal Australian, Polynesian, Egyptian and Tibetan astronomy, among others, the book includes essays on Sky Tales and Why We Tell Them and Astronomy and Prehistory, and Astronomy and Astrology. The essays address the connections between science and culture and relate astronomical practices to the cultures which produced them. Each essay is well illustrated and contains an extensive bibliography. Because the geographic range is global, the book fills a gap in both the history of science and in cultural studies. It should find a place on the bookshelves of advanced undergraduate students, graduate students, and scholars, as well as in libraries serving those groups.

Investigating Astronomy

Investigating Astronomy
Author: Timothy Slater
Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Total Pages: 392
Release: 2017-08-07
Genre:
ISBN: 9781974370009

Now superseded by a newer 4th edition, this astronomy textbook is tailored for a one-semester introductory class aimed at non-science majors. This edition brings the latest astronomical discoveries together with cutting-edge teaching and learning strategies designed specifically to improve student learning and retention.

Concepts and Categories

Concepts and Categories
Author: Michael T. Hannan
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Total Pages: 334
Release: 2019-08-13
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0231549938

Why do people like books, music, or movies that adhere consistently to genre conventions? Why is it hard for politicians to take positions that cross ideological boundaries? Why do we have dramatically different expectations of companies that are categorized as social media platforms as opposed to news media sites? The answers to these questions require an understanding of how people use basic concepts in their everyday lives to give meaning to objects, other people, and social situations and actions. In this book, a team of sociologists presents a groundbreaking model of concepts and categorization that can guide sociological and cultural analysis of a wide variety of social situations. Drawing on research in various fields, including cognitive science, computational linguistics, and psychology, the book develops an innovative view of concepts. It argues that concepts have meanings that are probabilistic rather than sharp, occupying fuzzy, overlapping positions in a “conceptual space.” Measurements of distances in this space reveal our mental representations of categories. Using this model, important yet commonplace phenomena such as our routine buying decisions can be quantified in terms of the cognitive distance between concepts. Concepts and Categories provides an essential set of formal theoretical tools and illustrates their application using an eclectic set of methodologies, from micro-level controlled experiments to macro-level language processing. It illuminates how explicit attention to concepts and categories can give us a new understanding of everyday situations and interactions.

Astronomy

Astronomy
Author: Andrew Fraknoi
Publisher:
Total Pages: 1198
Release: 2017-12-19
Genre:
ISBN: 9789888407316

Astronomy is written in clear non-technical language, with the occasional touch of humor and a wide range of clarifying illustrations. It has many analogies drawn from everyday life to help non-science majors appreciate, on their own terms, what our modern exploration of the universe is revealing. The book can be used for either aone-semester or two-semester introductory course (bear in mind, you can customize your version and include only those chapters or sections you will be teaching.) It is made available free of charge in electronic form (and low cost in printed form) to students around the world. If you have ever thrown up your hands in despair over the spiraling cost of astronomy textbooks, you owe your students a good look at this one. Coverage and Scope Astronomy was written, updated, and reviewed by a broad range of astronomers and astronomy educators in a strong community effort. It is designed to meet scope and sequence requirements of introductory astronomy courses nationwide. Chapter 1: Science and the Universe: A Brief Tour Chapter 2: Observing the Sky: The Birth of Astronomy Chapter 3: Orbits and Gravity Chapter 4: Earth, Moon, and Sky Chapter 5: Radiation and Spectra Chapter 6: Astronomical Instruments Chapter 7: Other Worlds: An Introduction to the Solar System Chapter 8: Earth as a Planet Chapter 9: Cratered Worlds Chapter 10: Earthlike Planets: Venus and Mars Chapter 11: The Giant Planets Chapter 12: Rings, Moons, and Pluto Chapter 13: Comets and Asteroids: Debris of the Solar System Chapter 14: Cosmic Samples and the Origin of the Solar System Chapter 15: The Sun: A Garden-Variety Star Chapter 16: The Sun: A Nuclear Powerhouse Chapter 17: Analyzing Starlight Chapter 18: The Stars: A Celestial Census Chapter 19: Celestial Distances Chapter 20: Between the Stars: Gas and Dust in Space Chapter 21: The Birth of Stars and the Discovery of Planets outside the Solar System Chapter 22: Stars from Adolescence to Old Age Chapter 23: The Death of Stars Chapter 24: Black Holes and Curved Spacetime Chapter 25: The Milky Way Galaxy Chapter 26: Galaxies Chapter 27: Active Galaxies, Quasars, and Supermassive Black Holes Chapter 28: The Evolution and Distribution of Galaxies Chapter 29: The Big Bang Chapter 30: Life in the Universe Appendix A: How to Study for Your Introductory Astronomy Course Appendix B: Astronomy Websites, Pictures, and Apps Appendix C: Scientific Notation Appendix D: Units Used in Science Appendix E: Some Useful Constants for Astronomy Appendix F: Physical and Orbital Data for the Planets Appendix G: Selected Moons of the Planets Appendix H: Upcoming Total Eclipses Appendix I: The Nearest Stars, Brown Dwarfs, and White Dwarfs Appendix J: The Brightest Twenty Stars Appendix K: The Chemical Elements Appendix L: The Constellations Appendix M: Star Charts and Sky Event Resources

Project Impact - Disseminating Innovation in Undergraduate Education

Project Impact - Disseminating Innovation in Undergraduate Education
Author: Ann McNeal
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 324
Release: 1998-02
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9780788142413

Contains abstracts of innovative projects designed to improve undergraduate education in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology. Descriptions are organized by discipline and include projects in: astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geological sciences, mathematics, physics, and social sciences, as well as a selection of interdisciplinary projects. Each abstract includes a description of the project, published and other instructional materials, additional products of the project, and information on the principal investigator and participating institutions.

International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching

International Handbook of Research in History, Philosophy and Science Teaching
Author: Michael R. Matthews
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 2487
Release: 2014-07-03
Genre: Education
ISBN: 9400776543

This inaugural handbook documents the distinctive research field that utilizes history and philosophy in investigation of theoretical, curricular and pedagogical issues in the teaching of science and mathematics. It is contributed to by 130 researchers from 30 countries; it provides a logically structured, fully referenced guide to the ways in which science and mathematics education is, informed by the history and philosophy of these disciplines, as well as by the philosophy of education more generally. The first handbook to cover the field, it lays down a much-needed marker of progress to date and provides a platform for informed and coherent future analysis and research of the subject. The publication comes at a time of heightened worldwide concern over the standard of science and mathematics education, attended by fierce debate over how best to reform curricula and enliven student engagement in the subjects. There is a growing recognition among educators and policy makers that the learning of science must dovetail with learning about science; this handbook is uniquely positioned as a locus for the discussion. The handbook features sections on pedagogical, theoretical, national, and biographical research, setting the literature of each tradition in its historical context. It reminds readers at a crucial juncture that there has been a long and rich tradition of historical and philosophical engagements with science and mathematics teaching, and that lessons can be learnt from these engagements for the resolution of current theoretical, curricular and pedagogical questions that face teachers and administrators. Science educators will be grateful for this unique, encyclopaedic handbook, Gerald Holton, Physics Department, Harvard University This handbook gathers the fruits of over thirty years’ research by a growing international and cosmopolitan community Fabio Bevilacqua, Physics Department, University of Pavia

Teaching and Learning Astronomy

Teaching and Learning Astronomy
Author: Jay Pasachoff
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2005-12-15
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780521842624

Astronomy is taught in schools worldwide, but few schoolteachers have any background in astronomy or astronomy teaching, and available resources may be insufficient or non-existent. This volume highlights the many places for astronomy in the curriculum; relevant education research and 'best practice'; strategies for pre-service and in-service teacher education; the use of the Internet and other technologies; and the role that planetariums, observatories, science centres, and organisations of professional and amateur astronomers can play. The special needs of developing countries, and other under-resourced areas are also highlighted. The book concludes by addressing how the teaching and learning of astronomy can be improved worldwide. This valuable overview is based on papers and posters presented by experts at a Special Session of the International Astronomical Union.

Conducting Astronomy Education Research

Conducting Astronomy Education Research
Author: Janelle M. Bailey
Publisher: Macmillan
Total Pages: 463
Release: 2010-09
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1429264098

Tim Slater and Roger Freedman have worked to improve astronomy and overall science education for many years. Now, they’ve partnered to create a new textbook, a re-envisioning of the course, focused on conceptual understanding and inquiry-based learning. Investigating Astronomy: A Conceptual Approach to the Universe is a brief, 15-chapter text that employs a variety of activities and experiences to encourage students to think like a scientist.