541: Relative Advantage of Using Technology to Teach Astronomy

Science is a content area that lends its hand to seamlessly integrate technology into the classroom.  Science is an area that can be extremely abstract, especially when it comes to astronomy.  The students can see the sun and the moon.  They know that they are on earth, but that doesn’t mean that they can understand how the solar system works.  We can make this possible with the help of technology.

“Students often develop scientific understandings as a result of their own observations and what they can see to be true. This approach is problematic when the phenomena under investigation are unseen or at least unobservable in the confines of the classroom” (CITEd Research Center). Using pictures, videos, games, and simulations, students can see how the earth orbits the sun and how the moon orbits the sun. This would not be possible without the use of technology.  How can we expect young students to understand this without seeing a simulation or video? This simulation speeds up the process so that students can see how long it takes the moon and the earth to complete their orbits.

Students do not have the capability to see the planets and all of the stars.  They need technology to help them get a visual of the planets.  Games and simulations can help students learn about the characteristics of the planets.  This simulation from Gizmo can be used, with the activation code: FHJQHMGC22, to compare the planets.  They can also see the path that they take to orbit the sun.  Stellarium is an open source planetarium for the computer.  It shows the solar system in 3D, realistic shapes to give students a better understanding of what the objects actually look like.

By using social media, like Twitter and Facebook, students can find and collaborate with peers and experts about astronomy.  They can search for resources to learn more information.  They can also see videos of interviews with astronauts.  Without technology, it would not be very possible to interview an astronaut.  This video shows an astronaut with Mike Massimino.  Click on investigations to find the interview.

There are also some more obvious advantages to use technology to study astronomy.  Students have instant access to resources and websites online.  The school does not have to purchase as many books.  Students can research and take notes. According to Boundless, “Web 2.0 interaction involves not only sharing ideas and information with someone else but also receiving feedback”. Students are excited and motivated to work together and receive the feedback from peers.  They also try harder when they know that the work will be published or someone else will see it.

When it comes to abstract ideas such as astronomy, I believe that the only way to teach the content to students is to incorporate technology.  It would be a disservice to our students to not allow them to actually explore the solar system.


References:

Boundless. “Advantages of Using Technology in the Classroom.” Boundless Education. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Retrieved 04 Nov. 2015 from https://www.boundless.com/education/textbooks/boundless-education-textbook/technology-in-the-classroom-6/edtech-25/advantages-of-using-technology-in-the-classroom-77-13007/

CITEd Research Center. (n.d.). Using multimedia tools to help students learn science. Retrieved November 3, 2015, from http://www.cited.org/index.aspx?page_id=148