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Hartnell Astronomy Short Course: The Distant Universe

Boost students' research skills in cosmology and galaxy evolution through a six-day course. Practice teaching techniques, develop new material, and foster a sense of community. Explore cosmology-related topics and engage in inquiry activities and college/career counseling.

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Hartnell Astronomy Short Course: The Distant Universe

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  1. Anne Metevier Lead Instructor Hartnell Astronomy Short Course: The Distant Universe

  2. Hartnell Astronomy Short Course • What:six-day course on cosmology and galaxy evolution • Where/When:first week of August, on Hartnell campus (Salinas) • Who:15-20 entering, continuing Hartnell community college students • Why:Boost students’ research skills so that they are better candidates for: • CfAO internships • Longer-term research projects Practice teaching techniques, new material

  3. CfAO  Hartnell Partnership • Short course instruction team: • Anne Metevier (UCSC) • Andy Newton (Hartnell) • Mark Ammons (UCSC) • Jennifer Lotz (UCSC) • Pimol Moth (Hartnell) • Lindsey Pollack (UCSC) • Candace Church (UCSC) • YOU! • Hartnell College • Dedicated staff • State-of-the-art planetarium • CfAO • Cutting-edge research • Bring research to Hartnell students

  4. Course Goals • Attitude-based • Build students’ confidence • Pursuing science and technology-related degrees and careers • Succeeding in research settings • Foster a sense of community • Skills-based • Give students practice using research skills • Generating questions • Transforming observations • Developing explanations from evidence • Communicating results

  5. Course Goals • Content-based • Cosmology-related topics • Big Bang theory • Expanding Universe • Galaxy formation • Fate of the Universe • Data that supports theories • Relative elemental abundances • Hubble’s law • COBE/WMAP temp fluctuations • Supernovae data • Content related to research projects

  6. Inquiry Activities • Question-generating activity • Present unfamiliar image, have students write down questions about it • “Research project” • Present data, have students generate questions • Galaxy morphologies • Rotation curves • AGN • New station(s)? • Students work in groups of 2-3 with “adviser” on question that interests them • Report results in poster presentation, written abstract Your help needed to revise and teach this activity!

  7. College/Career Counseling • “College Brick Road” • Discuss education paths • Students write “life proposals” • Career talks • Instructors discuss their career paths • Engineering applications • Computing applications • Personal decisions (family, monetary, etc.) • Transfer day • Students meet with transfer counselor at UCSC You!

  8. Positive Outcomes • Internship recruitment • Two 2004 students got internships in 2005 • Students transferring to 4-year institutions • At least two students already transferred to UCSC • Presidents Partnership of Excellence Award • Given to CfAO by Hartnell President in May

  9. Roles for Co-instructors • Revise, teach research project inquiry • Review current stations, any changes? • Add new station that interests you more? • Include planetarium in this activity? • Career talks • Design new cosmic distance ladder activity • Students form groups, each group tackles a “rung” of the ladder

  10. Student Quotes • "It has helped me understand and experience having a career in research, and has given me an opportunity to consider this type of job.” • "I want to go to graduate school now, whereas I only wanted a BS.” • "It was a really good experience [to] work as a scientist. I personally felt like one. Also it was a very good experience working with professional people. I hope I can be one of you one day."

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