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Timothy F. Slater Coty B. Tatge Research on Teaching Astronomy in the Planetarium 123
Timothy F. Slater University of Wyoming Laramie, WY USA Coty B. Tatge University of Wyoming Laramie, WY USA ISSN 2191-9100 ISSN 2191-9119 (electronic) SpringerBriefs in Astronomy ISBN 978-3-319-57200-0 ISBN 978-3-319-57202-4 (ebook) DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-57202-4 Library of Congress Control Number: 2017940535 The Author(s) 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Contents 1 Astronomy Education Research in the Planetarium... 1 References.... 25 2 Overview of Planetarium Education Research Methods.... 29 Ethical Guidelines for Education Research... 35 Control Group Design.... 38 Validity and Reliability... 39 Bloom s Taxonomy.... 42 Learning Environments... 44 Population... 44 Objectives and Assessment... 45 Informal Setting... 46 Formal Setting.... 46 Planetariums as a Formal Environment... 47 Quantitative Methods... 48 The t-test... 49 Qualitative Methods... 49 References.... 51 3 Learning Research in the Planetarium Prior to 1990... 53 1960 s Research... 54 Research in the Great Lakes Region... 57 Student Achievement Research... 59 Reed s Research 1970s... 61 Asking the Right Questions... 61 Need for Standard Instruments... 62 The Planetarium Environment... 63 Interactive Versus Lecture-Based Comparison.... 64 Stronger Evidence in 1980s.... 65 Bishop s Research.... 66 v
vi Contents Active Participatory Learning... 68 Progress the First Thirty Years... 70 References.... 71 4 Learning Research in the Planetarium After 1990... 75 Paradigm Shifts.... 75 Portable Planetariums... 77 Desktop Planetarium Software... 79 Hands-on Activities in the Dome... 81 Multiple Intelligences... 83 Invoking Education Research in Planetariums.... 85 Unintended Distractions... 87 The Field Trip.... 88 Research in Museum Settings... 89 Unraveling the Measured Impact.... 91 A Turkish Study... 91 The Dome Versus Desktop Planetarium... 92 Impact of Color in Cosmology... 93 The 3D Stereoscopic View... 94 More Case Studies... 95 The Digital Planetarium Impact.... 96 References.... 97 5 Affective Domain Research in the Planetarium.... 101 Attitude... 102 Education and Emotion... 103 Audience Selection... 104 Agents of Change... 105 Assessing Impact.... 106 Changing Attitudes... 107 Electronic Response Devices Aid Surveys... 108 High Value Visits... 110 Mallon s 1980 Survey.... 111 After the 1980s Hiatus... 111 The Portable Theater... 113 Reassessing the Research Instruments... 115 New Directions... 116 South African Mixed-Methods Study... 118 Digital Theaters and New Research... 119 Conclusion... 122 References.... 123 6 Epilogue... 127 Index... 129