HR: 0800h
AN: ED31C-1227    [Abstracts]
TI: Use and Evaluation of 3D GeoWall Visualizations in Undergraduate Space Science Classes
AU: Turner, N E
EM: neturner@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics Dept. 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AU: Hamed, K M
EM: kastro@utep.edu
AF: University of Texas at El Paso, Physics Dept., El Paso, TX 79968
AU: Lopez, R E
EM: relopez@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics Dept. 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AU: Mitchell, E J
EM: mitchele@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics Dept. 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AU: * Gray, C L
EM: wildflower81921@yahoo.com
AF: University of Texas at El Paso, Physics Dept., El Paso, TX 79968
AU: Corralez, D S
EM: demetriocorralez@hotmail.com
AF: University of Texas at El Paso, Physics Dept., El Paso, TX 79968
AU: Robinson, C A
EM: robinson@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics Dept. 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AU: Soderlund, K M
EM: ksoderlu@fit.edu
AF: Florida Institute of Technology, Physics Dept. 150 W University Blvd, Melbourne, FL 32901
AB: One persistent difficulty many astronomy students face is the lack of 3- dimensional mental model of the systems being studied, in particular the Sun-Earth-Moon system. Students without such a mental model can have a very hard time conceptualizing the geometric relationships that cause, for example, the cycle of lunar phases or the pattern of seasons. The GeoWall is a recently developed and affordable projection mechanism for three-dimensional stereo visualization which is becoming a popular tool in classrooms and research labs for use in geology classes, but as yet very little work has been done involving the GeoWall for astronomy classes. We present results from a large study involving over 1000 students of varied backgrounds: some students were tested at the University of Texas at El Paso, a large public university on the US-Mexico border and other students were from the Florida Institute of Technology, a small, private, technical school in Melbourne Florida. We wrote a lecture tutorial-style lab to go along with a GeoWall 3D visual of the Earth-Moon system and tested the students before and after with several diagnostics. Students were given pre and post tests using the Lunar Phase Concept Inventory (LPCI) as well as a separate evaluation written specifically for this project. We found the lab useful for both populations of students, but not equally effective for all. We discuss reactions from the students and their improvement, as well as whether the students are able to correctly assess the usefullness of the project for their own learning.
DE: 0810 Post-secondary education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 0845 Instructional tools
DE: 0850 Geoscience education research
DE: 0855 Diversity
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005