ERIC Number: EJ1007705
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2013-Mar
Pages: 3
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0031-921X
EISSN: N/A
The Orion Constellation as an Installation: An Innovative Three-Dimensional Teaching and Learning Environment
Brown, Daniel
Physics Teacher, v51 n3 p160-162 Mar 2013
Visualizing the three-dimensional distribution of stars within a constellation is highly challenging for both students and educators, but when carried out in an interactive collaborative way, it can create an ideal environment to explore common misconceptions about size and scale within astronomy. We present how the common tabletop activities based upon the Orion constellation miss out on this opportunity. Transforming them into a walkthrough Orion installation that includes the position of our solar system allows the students to fully immerse themselves within the model and experience parallax. It enables participants to explore within the installation many other aspects of astronomy relating to sky culture, stellar evolution, and stellar sizes, establishing an innovative learning and teaching environment. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Astronomy, Misconceptions, Science Activities, Science Instruction, Visual Aids, Educational Environment, Instructional Innovation
American Association of Physics Teachers. One Physics Ellipse, College Park, MD 20740. Tel: 301-209-3300; Fax: 301-209-0845; e-mail: pubs@aapt.org; Web site: http://scitation.aip.org/tpt
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A