“ How Amateur Astronomers Learn: High Self-Directed Life Long Learners"

1. “How Amateur Astronomers Learn:High Self-Directed Life Long Learners" By Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. Love of Learning Amateur Astronomers Amateur Scientist Life Long Learner

2. Alvin Toffler - Futurist • 1970 – Future Shock • Crippling business and nations • 1980 – Third Wave • Consume huge, diverse data sets and build new paradigms of understanding • 1991 – Power Shift • Violence, Wealth, and knowledge

3. Background Research • 1992 – Spark Gap to Space • 1993 – SAREX – 3,000 kids • 1993 – Longitudinal Study – 8th grade • 1994 - Longitudinal Study – 11th grade • 1995 - Longitudinal Study – 5, 8, 11 grade • 1997 – Dissertation – Historical Events and the development of high self-directed learning readiness • 2009 How Amateur Astronomers Learn: Engaging High Self-Directed Learners in Astronomy

4. The Knowledge Explosion

5. Normal Curve

6. Histogram and Normal CurveAmateur Radio Operators

7. So What? • Knowledge explosion • Extinction level events • Contribution of amateur astronomers • Contribution of high self-directed learners • Who will discover and learn how mankind can avoid extinction?

8. Why study astronomers • They are members of the oldest science • As a group they demonstrate high persistent learning across a lifetime • As amateurs, they love learning, are not paid for their learning efforts • As a group they are recognized for their ability to contribute new knowledge, skills, and discoveries in their field of study

9. Extinction Level Eventsfrom the BBC 2008

10. Amateur Astronomers are Operationally Defined as High Self-Directed Learners • Take responsibility for their learning • Plan and execute learning activities • Self-allocate resources • Evaluate educational outcomes • Extend their own learning plans • Have a sense of service – to a greater good. • Love learning

11. Amateur Astronomers Learn • For the love of learning • To structure their day, and their lives • Within the framework of an organizing circumstance • Questions • Puzzles • problems

12. SDLRS Scores

13. Ethnic Group

14. Male/Female

15. Highest Degree Held

16. Study Pref – Kind of Learner

17. Other Family Astronomers?

18. Where did you receive encouragement to become an astronomer?

19. How supportive is your family?

20. Where do you engage in your hobby most often?

21. Sir William Gilbert • * Born 1544 prominent family • * Royal Physician England • * Gentleman Scientist • * 18 years studying magnetism • * First advance in 2,000 years • * Stood without addition for 200 yrs • Published his findings near the end of his personal research • Scientific method • First modern textbook • Highly self-directed learner

22. Galileo Galilie • * Born 1564 Italy • * Father a musician home schooled • * Defrocked priest • * Failed to graduate • * Prof Mathematics age 26 • * Appointed Padau – independent • Struggled for money - military • Saw telescope as way to gain financial success • Discoveries tempered by the Church • Scientific method • Highly self-directed

23. 3rd Wave Race to extinction Who are the scientists Why do we need them First Moment of Lasting Excitement Scientists are HSDL Motivation to learn Contribution to knowledge Why study hobbyists Insight to HSDL Fast space of science Everything you have just learned is out dated Summary

24. Terry Redding terry@oltraining.com Questions?