Table 1 The Secrets of the Stars course program overview
Day | Session title | Goals | Activities |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Introduction Science Inquiry | • Gaining awareness about the plurality of the approaches to science • Making hypotheses and mastering argumentation • Collaboration • Work with a camera • Use of video-editing software • Developing interview questions | • Program overview • Astronomy diagnostic test • Teambuilding • Creating team introductory videos • Next session preparation |
2 | Beliefs and Assumptions about Astronomy | • Data search • Planning and organising • Data management • Video-editing | • Listening to the Australian Aboriginal story of creation • Learning the creation stories of other people • Script writing • Collecting and analysing information • Storyboarding • Taking footage • Video-editing • Discussion |
3 | The Solar System | • Learning about the Solar System • Calculating scales • Making scale models | • Investigating the structure of the Solar System • Building scale models of the Solar System • Making a video about the Solar System |
4 | Stars, colour, brightness, and life history | • Stellarium software • Understanding the features of the stars • Making colour images of the stars | • Mapping constellations • Making colour images of the stars • Making a video guide to the use of the Stellarium software |
5 | How the constellation got its name? | • Research skills • Presentation skills | • Finding a story behind the name of a constellation • Making a video about one of the constellations |
6 | Phases of the Moon | • Understanding the phases of the Moon • Practising the use of scale models • Keeping a log book of observations • Reporting the observations | • Completing the Moon phases observation log book • Making scale models of the Earth and the Moon • Making a video-report to explain the phases of the Moon |
7 | Day, Night and Seasons | • Testing hypotheses • Comparing | • Exploring the reasons behind the night and day phenomenon • Exploring the reasons for having seasons • Making a video about night and day or seasons |
8 | What is an Ecotect? | • Making predictions • Summarising | • Thinking about the possible high-demand jobs of the future |
9 | My Journey through Space and Time | • Reflecting about the gained knowledge • Presentations and feedback | • Astronomy diagnostic test • Demonstration of the videos made during the course • Awarding Certificates of completion |