Observational Journals: An Aid to Sky Watching: A Stellar Exercise—Predicting Events in the Sky | NSTA

Observational Journals: An Aid to Sky Watching: A Stellar Exercise—Predicting Events in the Sky

Journal of College Science Teaching—February 2000

The endless procession of the Sun, Moon, and stars allows science students to fashion predictive models by keeping their own observational journals. Through careful recordkeeping, classroom discussion, and reflective writing, students’ work progresses through increasing levels of cognitive sophistication that match well with learning theories. Such efforts provide an alternative to lecture and laboratory for mastering key scientific concepts.

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