ERIC Number: EJ1101071
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015-Jun
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2374-6246
EISSN: N/A
Using a Digital Planetarium for Teaching Seasons to Undergraduates
Yu, Ka Chun; Sahami, Kamran; Sahami, Victoria; Sessions, Larry C.
Journal of Astronomy & Earth Sciences Education, v2 n1 p33-50 Jun 2015
Computer-generated simulations and visualizations in digital planetariums have the potential to bridge the comprehension gap in astronomy education. Concepts involving three-dimensional spatial relationships can be difficult for the layperson to understand, since much of the traditional teaching materials used in astronomy education remain two-dimensional in nature. We study the student performance after viewing visualizations in an immersive theater and in non-immersive classrooms for the topic of seasons in an introductory undergraduate astronomy course. Using weekly multiple-choice quizzes to gauge student learning, comparison of curriculum tests taken immediately after instruction and pre-instruction quizzes show a significant difference in the results of students who viewed visualizations in the planetarium versus their counterparts who viewed non-immersive content in their classrooms, and those in the control group that saw no visualizations whatsoever. These results suggest that the immersive visuals help by freeing up cognitive resources that can be devoted to learning, while visualizations shown in the classroom may be an intrinsically inferior experience for students.
Descriptors: Undergraduate Students, Geography Instruction, Computer Simulation, Visualization, Astronomy, Multiple Choice Tests, Control Groups, Experimental Groups, Teaching Methods, Museums, Achievement Gains, Science Course Improvement Projects, Instructional Effectiveness, Introductory Courses, Student Surveys, Interviews, Statistical Analysis, Pretests Posttests
Clute Institute. 6901 South Pierce Street Suite 239, Littleton, CO 80128. Tel: 303-904-4750; Fax: 303-978-0413; e-mail: Staff@CluteInstitute.com; Web site: http://www.cluteinstitute.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Tests/Questionnaires; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Colorado (Denver)
Grant or Contract Numbers: NSFROLE0529522; DRL0848945