Right now I'm thinking four main ePortfolio assignments over the course of the semester. I'm also thinking that I'll have to check in with students more frequently- perhaps weekly- to make sure they are on track. I'd love for the assignments to build on one another. I'm also playing with the idea of some sort of presentation- teaching is knowing.
First Draft Assignment Ideas:
First Draft Assignment Ideas:
- The first assignment should be setting up ePortfolio, including the "About Me" and all that, and a reflection on why student decided to take astronomy and/or meditation on Hubble Ultra Deep Field.
- Something to demonstrate an understanding of spectroscopy, perhaps also include how spectra are taken in real observatories. There's a nice discussion question in The Cosmic Perspective (Ch. 5) on the changing limitations of science. As for telescopes- it's possible for students to take virtual tours of major observatories. Also space observatories for wavelengths outside visible and radio. Could ask if students feel it's worth spending taxpayer dollars on enormous telescopes.
- Could there be an ePortfolio assignment on HR diagram? Again, there's a nice discussion question in the Cosmic Perspective (Ch. 15) on classification in science. Stellar classification was huge for astronomy. Students could make link to other sciences. There's also a significant "women in astronomy" link here- Pickering's Harem / Harvard's computers.
- There are so many beautiful images of star birth and star death. Perhaps students could look for photos of stars at different stages of evolution (in different wavelengths) and describe.
- Students really like black holes. Perhaps an analysis of black holes in movies and popular culture? This doesn't align exactly with any particular outcome. Sort of goes with "lifecycles of various stars".
- Investigating how we discovered the structure of the Milky Way. Lots of history and interesting people.
- Hubble's Law and Georges Lemaitre- could be a process of science question here.
- Reporting on the nature of dark matter. There are new articles almost every day.
- Other miscellaneous thoughts that don't fit into a learning objective- archeoastronomy, history of astronomy, diversity in astronomy, life in the universe.