Uncovering High School Students Initial Understanding and Beliefs about the Nature of Science Prior

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Uncovering High School Students Initial
Understanding and Beliefs about the Nature of
Science Prior to Studying Variable
StarsPresented at the AAVSO Spring
MeetingRockford, IllinoisMay 5th, 2006Pebble
Richwine, James Bedient, and Dr. Timothy F.
Slater
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Challenges in Science Education

• STEM
• NOS is under
• attack
• Reform efforts
• Can the AAVSO Help?

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Research Questions

• What impact does participating in an authentic
  inquiry research experience have on students
  attitudes and beliefs towards the nature of
  science?
• What impact does participating in an authentic
  inquiry research experience have on students
  understanding of variable stars?
• It is hypothesized that there would be no
  significant difference in students attitudes and
  beliefs towards the Nature of Science due to
  participation in an authentic inquiry research
  experience.
• It is hypothesized that there would be no
  significant difference in students understanding
  of variable stars after participating in an
  authentic inquiry research experience.

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Research Questions

• What impact does participating in an authentic
  inquiry research experience have on students
  attitudes and beliefs towards the nature of
  science?
• What impact does participating in an authentic
  inquiry research experience have on students
  understanding of variable stars?
• It is hypothesized that there would be no
  significant difference in students attitudes and
  beliefs towards the Nature of Science due to
  participation in an authentic inquiry research
  experience.
• It is hypothesized that there would be no
  significant difference in students understanding
  of variable stars after participating in an
  authentic inquiry research experience.

Baseline Data
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Integrated Science

• 81 Students in General Class
• 91 Hispanic, Mexican, or Latino
• 45 Female
• 16-18 age range
• 59 Students in Advanced Integrated Science
• 93 Hispanic, Mexican, or Latino
• 68 Female
• 14-18 age range

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Methodology

• Mixed Method Approach
• Quantitative
• Nature of Science Survey
• Frequency/Thematic responses
• to open-ended survey
• Qualitative
• Open-ended survey responses
• Semi-structured Interviews
• Student Artifacts
• Videotaped Classroom Activities

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Treatment

• In the Hunt for Variable Stars

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Astrometrica
http//www.astrometrica.at/
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http//www.nrao.edu/software/fitsview/
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School site license 129.00 teachers' price
(with site license) 35.00 students' price
(with site license) 20.00 Individual's price
89.00
Michael Newberry, PhD, President Mirametrics,
Inc. mnewberry_at_mirametrics.com
http//www.mirametrics.com/
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In the Hunt For Variable Stars Manual

• ACTIVITIES
• Fitsview
• Star Hopping
• Astrometrica
• Julian Dates
• Data Management
• Mira Software
• Graphing in Excel
• Using Internet Databases
• FTP Download
• FTP Stardial
• Submitting Data

• APPENDIX
• Image
• Key to Vizier Activity
• Making Observation (AAVSO)
• About Variable Stars (AAVSO)
• Julian Date (AAVSO)
• Variable Star Resources (AAVSO)
• Table of Variables
• Table of Comparison Stars
• Correlation to National Standards
• Correlation to Benchmarks

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In the Hunt For Variable Stars Manual

• ACTIVITIES
• Fitsview
• Star Hopping
• Astrometrica
• Julian Dates
• Data Management
• Mira Software
• Graphing in Excel
• Using Internet Databases
• FTP Download
• FTP Stardial
• Submitting Data

• APPENDIX
• Image
• Key to Vizier Activity
• Making Observation (AAVSO)
• About Variable Stars (AAVSO)
• Julian Date (AAVSO)
• Variable Star Resources (AAVSO)
• Table of Variables
• Table of Comparison Stars
• Correlation to National Standards
• Correlation to Benchmarks

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Results Quantitative
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Results Qualitative
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Inferences

• Misconceptions and
• presuppositions
• NOS
• Inquiry in the Classroom
• Science Education Reform

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Where Do I Go From Here?

• Written Comprehensive Exam Starts
• May 15th, 2006
• Case Study Closure May 20th, 2006
• Summer 2006 Data Analysis
• August 2006 Oral Comprehensive Exam
• April 2006 Defense (hint Pebble needs a job!)
• Work with Kevin Lee

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Where Do I Go From Here?

• Written Comprehensive Exam Starts
• May 15th, 2006
• Case Study Closure May 20th, 2006
• Summer 2006 Data Analysis
• August 2006 Oral Comprehensive Exam
• April 2006 Defense (hint Pebble needs a job!)
• Work with Kevin Lee

Pebble Needs A Job!
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Nebraska Astronomy Applet Project
http//astro.unl.edu/naap/splash/
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Uncovering High School Students Initial
Understanding and Beliefs about the Nature of
Science Prior to Studying Variable Stars