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COSPAR-2008
1. What is ASTROTOP? Aim, basic principles?
ASTROTOP is the system of astronomical research projects for High School students (K12)
The Aim: to convert study of sciences in school and in teacher colleges from the process of
violence of “stupid” pupils by “stupid” teachers into process of join research of collaborators in the
field of join interest.
• Why astronomy and space science?
• Change of the paradigm from study to research = change of educational unit from “knowledge” to
“research project”
• “Privatization” of knowledge and experience by pupil
Basic Principles:
• Using of the natural interest to space-astronomy “hot” questions to “exotic” objects (from Big Bang
black holes and dark energy up to space weather/solar activity influence on the Earth civilization) –
themes of the project are independent choice of the pupil from wide prpared database of the themes
and objects.
• Research and study of the several alternative hypothesis as way to find answer
• Preparation of the depositary of observational data and tools for its analysis in the form, accepted for
pupils K12 level (electron table format and description of catalogs, images, light curves)
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2.a. What is place of ASTROTOP in the system of science education?
ASTROTOP is final part of the multilevel program “Blossoms of Science”
• “Blossoms of Science” base on the educational approach alternative to classic: involving child in
creative production of knowledge as soon as possible: form children garden and elementary school
(in form of specialized computer games) up to high school students (K12) in form of mini and
macro projects. Main code of the program: pupil study nature as scientist-researcher (“ask
me”=Socrates' system), not as animal – object of training (army system).
ASTROTOP allow to pupil-participants from last classes of high school to study selected actual topics of
space physics/astronomy on the base of real experimental or observational data, obtained in real time or
from archives of the last years, with using existed mechanisms of “Virtual Observatory” (from SOHO
and GOES up to SLOAN digital survey).
ASTROTOP process lead to change of pupil’s educational paradigm from “user-consumer” to “author-creator” and, in
result, to “privatization” of the obtained knowledge and higher quality of knowledge.
ASTROTOP give to pupils-participants basic experience of the scientific approach in search of answer on numerous
questions about world around and allow to reproduce this scheme in the future in wide fields of problem.
ASTROTOP for many pupils, participated in the project simulated their involving into the science and choice of the
scientific career in their life as predominant version of their development in adult life.
COSPAR-2008
2.b. What is place of ASTROTOP in the system of
science education?
ASTROTOP process lead to change of pupil’s educational
paradigm from “user-consumer” to “author-creator” and,
in result, to “privatization” of the obtained knowledge and
higher quality of knowledge.
Internet-Based Depositary-database of
prepared scenarios of possible research
(in present time – 40 scenarios, in our
plan –up to 100) in the form acceptable Astronomical Research Projects
for pupil and his teacher - supervisor for High School Students
Stars
The colors of the Stars
• What does the Star’s color tell us.
• Populations in the world of the stars.
Spectroscopy of the Stars
• The Continual Spectrum of the Stars.
• The Line Spectrum of the Stars.
• Eclipses in the world of the Stars: Measurement of the Physical Size of the Stars through their eclipses.
The Universe
The Evolution of the Universe – Hubble’s Law
• Run-away of galaxies from Supernova observations in them – manifestation of the dark energy.
• Measuring the distances and run-away velocity for spiral galaxies – Hubble law discovery.
• Searching for the structure of the universe on a global scale using deep survey of the galaxies in polar strip.
• Gamma bursts, their position on the sky and possible nature.
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Example of ASTROTOP research project:
The interaction between Cosmic Rays, Earth Magnetosphere and Solar activity –
Project –winner in National contest 2004 (Daniel Shvartsman, Science and Art Academy, Jerusalem).
The Subject The influence of the Atmosphere, Magnetosphere and Solar activity on Cosmic Ray.
The Aims • To discover the relationship between changes in atmosphere/magnetosphere and of the Cosmic Ray
flux.
• To discover the relationship between the changes in the Cosmic Ray flux and Solar activity (shock
waves in the solar wind).
Objects Cosmic Ray, Atmosphere, Magnetosphere, Solar wind, Solar flare.
Research questions • What is Cosmic Ray and how is it measured?
What are the possible reasons for changes in Cosmic Ray with time?
Dependence of Cosmic Ray to the magnetic field of magnetosphere and to the CME?
Dependence between Cosmic Ray and “Space Weather”?
Background Background in Physics: Modern Physics - movement of the charged particle in electric and
Knowledge magnetic fields.
Astronomical Background: Cosmic Ray, Earth atmosphere and magnetosphere, Solar Wind and
Solar Flares. CR Flux daily variations
0
24
48
72
96
120
144
168
192
216
240
264
288
312
336
360
384
408
432
456
480
504
528
552
576
600
624
648
672
696
720
744
density and speed of the Solar Wind over e specific time frame.
Data analysis with presentation on graphs of the synchronic changes in Cosmic Ray, magnetic
field, solar wind and solar x-rays. Flux(CR) - Moscow
Sunspot Number (USA)
Suggested sites Cosmic Radiation: a Nasa site – introductory level. Cosmic Radiation: a Nasa site – advanced level. 8000 300
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6600
9400
6550
6500
9300
Cosmic Ray Flux
6450
9200 6400
6350
9100
6300
9000 6250
6
Index Kp variation in November 1996-July 1997
Kp
196
5
71 120 221
4 40 168 25
26
14 26 146 182
3 18 45 26 208
27 26
155
27 26
68
2 28
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Results after 10 year experience
First places in Pan-European competitions of educational
project in astronomy (SkyWatch 2005 and Discovery Space
2006, SkyWatch 2007).
Hundreds pupils, who tested themselves as researchers and
continue this activity in universities and after.
COSPAR-2008
Thank you!
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COSPAR-2008
Active Astronomy
Teacher Guide
• Pedagogy:
– Discovery approach
– Peer instruction
– Student learns like a
researcher
– Paves the way from the
class to the boundaries of the
Universe.
• Physics Education
Research (PER)
• Background in astronomy
for physics teachers.