• A Teaching Module about Stella...

Treffer: A Teaching Module about Stellar Structure and Evolution

Title:
A Teaching Module about Stellar Structure and Evolution
Language:
English
Authors:
Colantonio, Arturo, Galano, Silvia, Leccia, Silvio, Puddu, Emanuella, Testa, Italo
Source:
Physics Education. Jan 2017 52(1).
Availability:
Institute of Physics Publishing. The Public Ledger Building Suite 929, 150 South Independence Mall West, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 215-627-0880; Fax: 215-627-0879; e-mail: info@ioppubusa.com; Web site: http://journals.iop.org
Peer Reviewed:
Y
Page Count:
13
Publication Date:
2017
Intended Audience:
Teachers
Document Type:
Fachzeitschrift Journal Articles<br />Tests/Questionnaires<br />Guides - Classroom - Teacher
Education Level:
Secondary Education
Descriptors:
Science Instruction, Units of Study, Astronomy, Science Activities, Energy, Nuclear Physics, Scientific Principles, Secondary School Students, Secondary School Science, Multiple Choice Tests, Instructional Effectiveness, Pretests Posttests, Scores, Evolution, Questionnaires
DOI:
10.1088/1361-6552/52/1/015012
ISSN:
0031-9120
Number of References:
14
Entry Date:
2017
Accession Number:
EJ1162312
Database:
ERIC

Weitere Informationen

In this paper, we present a teaching module about stellar structure, functioning and evolution. Drawing from literature in astronomy education, we designed the activities around three key ideas: spectral analysis, mechanical and thermal equilibrium, energy and nuclear reactions. The module is divided into four phases, in which the key ideas for describing stars' functioning and physical mechanisms are gradually introduced. The activities (20 hours) build on previously learned laws in mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism and help students combine them meaningfully in order to get a complete picture of processes that happens in stars. The module was piloted with two intact classes of secondary school students (N = 59 students, 17-18 years old), using a ten-question multiple-choice questionnaire as research instrument. Results support the effectiveness of the proposed activities. Implications for the teaching of advanced physics topics using stars as fruitful context are briefly discussed.

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