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  • Is the Sun a Star?

    Lesson Plan |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the Sun and stars. The probe is designed to uncover students’ ideas about the nature of stars and their recognition that the Sun is an average star…

  • The Importance of Reading Equations

    Journal Article |

  • Lunar Eclipse

    Lesson Plan |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about eclipses. The probe is designed to find out what students think causes a lunar eclipse.

  • Phases of the Moon

    Journal Article |

    Using discrepant events to confront misconceptions

  • Occultations and Eclipses

    Journal Article |

    Astronomy throughout the year

  • Gazing at the Moon

    Lesson Plan |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about the Earth-Sun-Moon system. The probe is designed to uncover students’ ideas about Moon phases and whether they think the phase of the Moon changes…

  • Geoscience Education and Motivated Reasoning

    Journal Article |

    Individuals use information selectively, in ways that support group beliefs or one’s psychological needs—this is motivated reasoning. Motivated reasoning is revealed in correlations between (1) opinions/…

  • Going Through a Phase

    Lesson Plan |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about Moon phases. The probe is designed to find out if students recognize the role of light reflection and the positional relationship between the Earth…

  • Sun Tracker

    Journal Article |

  • Understanding Genetic Drift With Conceptual and Mathematical Models

    Journal Article |

  • Making Science Personal

    Journal Article |

    General education college astronomy courses offer instructors both a unique audience and a unique challenge. For many students, such a course may be their first time encountering a stand-alone astronomy class, and it is…

  • Comics in the Classroom

    Journal Article |

  • Global Warming

    Lesson Plan |

    The purpose of this assessment probe is to elicit students’ ideas about global warming. The probe is designed to find out what students think contributes to global warming.

  • Family-Based Astronomy

    Journal Article |

  • NASA’s Universe of Learning

    Journal Article |

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