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Location:
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KFC Courts |
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Date:
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Monday, Aug.01 |
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Time:
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8:00PM - 8:45PM
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Author:
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Richard Gelderman, Western Kentucky University
270 745 6203, gelderman@wku.edu
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Co-Author(s):
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None
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Abstract:
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We present and discuss a series of "minds-on" interactive student-centered exercises and activities built into an introductory astronomy course. The lessons are structured to help students improve their ability to recognize patterns and improve their ability to really see the details in front of them. Another goal is for students to realize there is "more than meets the eye" to learn how to discover "hidden" diagnostics, such as different sources of light their eyes see as white light. A curriculum that emphasizes spectroscopy also provides the opportunity to stress the story of the "Harvard Women," a tale that bridges gender gaps and often humanizes scientists in the eyes of non-science majors. Finally, with a solid foundation in spectroscopy, students are better prepared to understand exciting topics such as Hubble's law and the importance of primordial nucleosynthesis.
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Footnotes:
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None
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