HR: 0830h
AN: ED51C-1206    [PDF]
TI: Exploring Sun-Earth Connections: A Physical Science Program for (K-8)Teachers
AU: * Michels, D J
EM: michels@louis14.nrl.navy.mil
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AU: * Michels, D J
EM: michels@louis14.nrl.navy.mil
AF: Naval Research Laboratory, Code 7660 M, Washington, DC 20375 United States
AU: Pickert, S M
EM: pickert@cua.edu
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AU: Thompson, J L
EM: thompsjl@cua.edu
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AU: Montrose, C J
EM: montrose@cua.edu
AF: The Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20064 United States
AB: An experimental, inquiry-based physical science curriculum for undergraduate, pre-service K-8 teachers is under development at the Catholic University of America in collaboration with the Solar Physics Branch of the Naval Research Laboratory and NASA's Sun-Earth Connection missions. This is a progress report. The current, stunningly successful exploratory phase in Sun-Earth Connection (SEC) physics, sparked by SOHO, Yohkoh, TRACE, and other International Solar Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) and Living With a Star (LWS) programs, has provided dynamic, visually intuitive data that can be used for teaching basic physical concepts such as the properties of gravitational and electromagnetic fields which are manifest in beautiful imagery of the astrophysical plasmas of the solar atmosphere and Earth's auroras. Through a team approach capitalizing on the combined expertise of the Catholic University's departments of Education and Physics and of NRL solar researchers deeply involved in SEC missions we have laid out a program that will teach non-science-major undergraduates a very limited number of physical science concepts but in such a way as to develop for each one both a formal understanding and an intuitive grasp that will instill confidence, spark interest and scientific curiosity and, ideally, inspire a habit of lifetime inquiry and professional growth. A three-semester sequence is planned. The first semester will be required of incoming Education freshmen. The second and third semesters will be of such a level as to satisfy the one-year science requirement for non-science majors in the College of Arts and Sciences. The approach as adopted will integrate physics content and educational methods, with each concept introduced through inquiry-based, hands-on investigation using methods and materials directly applicable to K-8 teaching situations (Exploration Phase). The topic is further developed through discussion, demonstration and lecture, introducing such mathematical formulations as are necessary to express the concept clearly (Invention Phase). To further clarify the concept, exercises will be carried out using Web-accessible SEC mission data to develop facility in use of the mathematical formulations, stimulate a sense of participation in ongoing research, and expand on ways to introduce future pupils to the excitement of real-world exploration (Expansion Phase).
DE: 6605 Education
DE: 7500 SOLAR PHYSICS, ASTROPHYSICS, AND ASTRONOMY
DE: 7509 Corona
DE: 7513 Coronal mass ejections
DE: 7599 General or miscellaneous
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting