Blossoms of Science — National Center for Astronomy

Blossoms of Science - National Center for Astronomy Education Jordan Valley College & Tel Aviv University, Israel Astronomy from kindergarten up to the boundaries of the universe “COSPAR-2008” 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 1

The Aim: to convert study of sciences in school and in teacher colleges from process of violence of “stupid” pupils by “stupid” teachers into process of join research of collaborators in the field of join interest. • Why astronomy and space science? • Change of the paradigm from study to research = change of educational unit from “knowledge” to “project” • “Privatization” of knowledge and experience by pupil 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 2

Strategy of the Blossoms of Science: Study as scientific Research - Projects Kindergarten+ Elementary School: 7 -13 years School Units: Nano. Projects from “Touch the Sky”=1 hour Intermediate School: 13 -17 year Units: Mini. Projects in “Day of Science”, “Portable Lab and Mobile Observatory”, “Summer Astronomical Camps” =4 -6 h Internet sources: “Internet Astronomical School”, “Astronomy Picture of the Day”, “Tours in the Solar System” High School: (17 -18 years) - ASTROTOP Units: Macro. Projects in real astronomical themes with real observational data from solar activity up to Big Bang=100 h=** Unit: Final DIPLOMA Research – Participation of selected students of high schools in real scientific projects with scientistsresearchers as collaboraters and support group. =400 h=**** Preparation of teachers of Sciences in Colleges and University to creative methods in astronomy education 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 3

Astronomy for Kindergarten “Touch the Sky” • Morning – Touching the sun – My shadow – The child at the mirror – Puddle and the sky • Noon – How hot is it today? – Where does the sun go? – Follow the sun – Who is longer: me or my shadow? • Evening – Expanded moon – Calendar and moon phase – Is the moon the king of the night? 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 4

Portable Astronomical Laboratory • The PAL includes set of telescopes (10 cm and 2 * 20 cm) with solar filters, movable planetarium, set for rockets experiments, and more. It allow school children to do astronomy experiments and observations at school and in their own neighborhoods. • The PAL has been designed to meet the following objectives: – To arouse an interest in astronomy. – To provide basic concepts in astronomy. – To stress the exploratory learning environment – To enrich the study of science. – To enable children, students and teachers to have a deeper interest in astronomy. – To enable students to conduct research and advanced projects in astronomy on higher levels (summer camps, ASTROTOP, Diploma Projects). 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 5

Astro-Top - Projects for High Scholl Students 11 -12 grades • An Astro-Top is an Astronomical research project run by High School students (years 11 & 12) in the Physics class. • The Astro-Top can take the place of the Laboratory Matriculation Exam and be developed further to cover another exam unit. • The Astro-Top is supervised by a physics teacher and supported by The National Astronomical Teaching and Research center - The Jordan Valley College & Tel Aviv University. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 6

Stages of Astro-Top • • • Selection of Subject. Background Research. Preparation of Research Proposal. Focus on the Research Question. Hypothesis and its Criteria. Planning of Methodology and Data Collection from Internet and our Data Base. Data Processing and Analysis of Result. Conclusions. Final discussion with attention to new questions that arise from the Research. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 7

Selection of Subject. • principles for selection of subject: – The subject must be of interest to the students. – There should be a reasonable chance that the student can acquire a fair background to be able to understand the subject. – The teacher or specialist assigned for each student can supervise the assignment. – The student can analyze the data and draw conclusions. • How to chose a subject? – Astronomy picture of the day – breath taking picture banks that include over 1800 photos and pictures. To each an explanation with relevant links. – Pool of students projects – that includes 400 high school projects organized by subject. – Pool of Astronomy resources – the pool includes 150 different Astronomical concepts and is linked to additional explanations on the net. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 8

Proposals for Research • • The Earth and it’s surroundings Cosmic Rays – – • The interaction between Cosmic Rays and the Earth Atmosphere. The interaction between Cosmic Rays, Earth Magnetosphere and Solar activity. From Solar Storms to Magnetic Storms – – – From Solar Storms in the sun to Magnetic storms on Earth. The Northern Lights: Are they dangerous? Solar eruptions and their shock waves impact on earth. • The Sun • Sun spots – – • • The Solar System Eclipses in the solar System – – – • • The colors of the Stars • • What does the Star’s color tell us. Populations in the world of the stars. Spectroscopy of the Stars – – – • Kepler’s Laws and the definition of the masses of the planets. High and Low Tides and Cannibalism in the Universe. Stars – – • Lunar eclipses and measuring the radius of the moon. Solar eclipses on other planets. Eclipses of Jovian moons and measurement of the velocity of light. Kepler’s Laws in the Solar System – – • Sunspots and the Solar Magnetic Field. Proof of the solar rotation through sunspots. The Rotation of the Sun: from Galileo to present day. Solar cycle activity and the effect on the Earth. The Continual Spectrum of the Stars. The Line Spectrum of the Stars. Eclipses in the world of the Stars: Measurement of the Physical Size of the Stars through their eclipses. Galaxies and Quasars – – – Measuring the Mass of the Quasars in the Universe. What is the weight of the Black Hole in the Galaxy Center. Populations of the stars and nebulae in our Galaxy – Milky Way. The Universe The Evolution of the Universe – Hubble’s Law – – 3/19/2018 Run-away of galaxies from Supernova observations in them – manifestation of the dark energy. Measuring the distances and run-away velocity for spiral galaxies – Hubble law discovery. Searching for the structure of the universe on a global scale using deep survey of the galaxies in polar strip. Gamma bursts, their position on the sky and possible nature. COSPAR-2006 9

Research Proposal: The Rotation of the Sun, from Galileo to the present time • Aims –To compare Galileo’s observations of the sun’s rotation from 400 years ago to recent observations. –To check any changes over the years and describe them. –To explain the reasons for these changes if found. • Objects –Sunspots and the solar rotation. • The Research Question –What are the changes in the sun’s rotation over the 400 years from Galilleo till now. • General Knowledge –Historical Background: The history of science in Gallileo’s time. • Background in Physics: –Mechanics: –rotation, angular motion and rotation period, conserving of angular momentum. –Electricity and Magnetism: Electric fields and currents, magnetic fields, Ohm’s Law, Faraday’s Law. • Astronomical Background: –The structure of the sun. –The origin of solar energy. –The propagation of solar energy outwards from the center. –The origin of magnetic fields in the sun. • Mathematics and computer background: –Algebra, Spherical geometry, trigonometry, EXCEL. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 10

The Rotation of the Sun, (cont. ) • Required information – Data from observations of sunspots in the optical light from Galileo and in present time – Sunspots images from the internet. –The data can be found in the recommended links. • Stage of Project – Measurement of coordinates of the sunspots in Galileo’s sketches by Microsoft Photo. Editor or Photoshop and estimation of the rotation period of the sun in his time. – Measuring in the same way using up last years observations. – Comparison of the rotation periods and the predominant sunspots position from Galileo’s observation till now. – The differential rotation should be taken into consideration. – Summary of the project. • Recommended site (general knowledge) • http: //www. exploratorium. edu/sunspots/index. html • Recommended sites for Data • Background and general information. Optical Pictures from the Satellite SOHO OBSERVATORY: http: //sohowww. nascom. nasa. gov/cgi-bin/soho _images_bydate? summary • sunspots observations from the Hawaii observatory • sunspots in real time from the SOHO satellite 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 11

Looking for Cooperation • We would like to cooperate with Space and Astronomy Education Centers (AEC) in the world • Looking for sharing: – Astronomy education experience – Astronomy educational matter and approach – Joint projects and activities in the International Cooperation – Adaptation of our methodic and matter for our international collaborators • Dr. David Pundak david@yarden. ac. il • Dr. Lev Pustilnik levpust@post. tau. ac. il 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 12

Preliminary Results after 13 year experience • Several thousands pupils –authors of micro and mini projects in the frame of “Day of Science”, “Portable Lab and Mobile Observatory”, “Summer Astronomical Camps” • First places in Pan-European competitions of educational project in astronomy (Sky-Watch 2005 and Discovery Space 2006). • Hundreds pupils, who tested themselves as reseachers and continue this activity in universities and after. • (unique experience in different national-religious-mentality groups of Israel society from orthodox judish (hasids from Migdal Ha Emeq), arabian mouslims (Um Al Fahm) and arabian christians from Nazareth up to extra-atheist groups from kibutses of Jordan Valley – joint research in space/astrophysics field with natural experience of intergroup coolaboration. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 13

Thank you We are open for collaboration 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 14

3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 15

Blossom of Science Activities: • Research • Development of astronomical material for: – Kindergarten – Elementary School – High School • Interactions with the community: – – – Teacher center Internet astronomy school Portable astronomy lab Science and astronomy camps ASTROTOP – mini-projects in astronomy – Diploma Projects – participation in research in astronomy (TAU) 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 16

Research: (SGAO) Sea of Galilee Astrophysical Observatory, Wise Observatory of Tel Aviv Iniversity, Israel Space Weather and Cosmic Ray Center with Hermon Observatory • The SGAO Observatory is located in the southern part of the sea of Galilee (-200 m). • Includes 2*40 -cm optical telescopes MEADE with ST-6 CCD matrix (5 years archive of 154 nights, 35 variable stars, 53, 000 files). • Includes solar radio telescope RT-2. 5: monitoring and forecast of solar flares • Cooperation with Cosmic Ray Observatory (Mnt. Hermon) of Space Weather Center (ISA&TAU) and Wise Observatory in Mitspe Ramon (Negev) 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 17

A short list of projects we lead • Astronomical research (stellar and solar activity) • Development of educational projects using the Internet: Internet Astronomy School, (Eng and Heb), Astronomy Picture of the Day (Heb), Resource Dictionary (Heb), Collection of Students’ Projects (Heb), Tours in the Solar System (Heb). • Guiding high-school students working on research projects (ASTROTOP and Diploma Projects) • Extracurricular classes in science and astronomy • An astronomy newsletter • An annual summer science youth camp in Astronomy (micro-projects) - 200 participants/summer • Teachers' seminars in the fields of astronomy, physics and computers. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 18

Student Activities Astronomy in Action • Introduction to astronomy by active learning • Cycle of : question, conjecture, research, conclusions, new questions • Peer instruction • Astronomy phenomena: – sun – moon – light and sight – atmosphere – solar system – heat and color • 22 activities 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 19

Active Astronomy Teacher Guide • Pedagogy: – Discovery approach – Peer instruction – Student learns like a researcher – Paves the way from the class to the boundaries of the Universe. • Physics Education Research (PER) • Background in astronomy for physics teachers. 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 20

Internet Astronomy School 3/19/2018 COSPAR-2006 21