Description 

To add to the enjoyment of the course and help you learn to do by doing, there will be a few observing activities. Although these will be helpful in learning about the Sun, Moon, and planets and their movements, which can be somewhat tricky to master from textbook alone. Because we expect most learning will take place through the projects, activities, and individual reading, class mini-lectures will be given only as students require them to help master material not presented through the projects of activities. There will be only one examination - the final examination.

Our belief is that human beings can be better motivated and learn faster through direct involvement in projects, activities, and individual readings than through class lectures. The solar system is an incredibly fascinating place. It is a shame, we believe, when such exciting things as suns, planets, and comets are taught through lectures. Of course, the circumstances that make this special section possible are the new technologies provided by I.U. However, since it exists, it seems most sensible to use it to the fullest. This class is a pioneering attempt to do just that. Enjoy your exploration of the solar system!

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• People learn better when they are directly involved.
• Learning course content to address a meaningful problem is qualitatively different from learning to pass a test.
• Current technologies function less like books or films and more like studios and laboratories.

This course is designed for students interested in using technology to learn about the solar system. Students should feel comfortable working with a computer, however detailed knowledge is not expected or required. That is, you are not expected to know a programming language or a have a web page.

We will be using software programs that do the programming for you. You just have to develop the ideas and the questions you want to investigate with your models.arn and have fun.

• Participation as a team member to complete projects
• Completion of assigned papers
• Participation in group discussions
• Completion of the observational activities
• Pass the final examination (if you do not take the final exam you will get an incomplete regardless of your grade in the course up to that point)

• To enjoy a technology-rich learning environment that is also project-based, student-centered, collaborative, and multidisciplinary.
• To explore the use of virtual reality to develop realistic astronomical models in which you will learn concepts such as gravitational interactions, orbits, and structure and composition of planetary and solar atmospheres and interiors.

Project 2: Model of Earth, Moon, & Sun,
including a description (web page or group paper) and presentation of our project

800 pts

Extra Credit opportunities:
Complete the pre-post interviews/tests

40 pts

This is a learning project. You will learn some fundamental astronomical concepts concerning the equinoxes, the solstices and the ecliptic and the celestial equator. You will also develop the necessary skills to successfully complete the course.

Presentation:

The presentation should consist of a description of your model (e.g. the scaling parameters that were used). The presentation should also include a discussion of how it compares with the real solar system (e.g. elliptical orbits are difficult to model, so how does that affect your model?). Lastly, there should a brief discussion describing what you would do differently if you could begin your model from scratch.

Most importantly your presentation should include a discussion of some of the major astronomical concepts your model demonstrates and how you modeled them. The presentation will have a time limit and will be determined later in the semester. In addition each person should present some aspect of your team's model.

Keeping a log book of what you have done, what went well, and what went wrong will prove useful to you and your team when you put your project and papers/and or presentations together

Build the Sun, Moon, Earth system with the following requirements 

• Correct relative sizes and distances.
• A cross-sectional view of each body, with parts labeled, and with an description of the atmosphere and interior.
• Place cameras in multiple positions that illustrate major Sun, Earth, & Moon system positions and make snapshots of special configurations. This means placing a camera (viewpoint) so that one can see phases or eclipses of the moon as viewed from the Earth and what the Earth looks like from the Moon.
• This project may involve an observing project that you will try to use your model to explain or demonstrate.

 

Upon completion of this project your team will be expected to put together a web page or a paper describing what your team did and what features your model have. Your team will also be expected to present your model to the rest of the class.

Presentation:

The presentation should consist of a description of your model (e.g. the scaling parameters that were used). The presentation should also include a discussion of how it compares with the real solar system (e.g. elliptical orbits are difficult to model, so how does that affect your model?). Lastly, there should a brief discussion describing what you would do differently if you could begin your model from scratch.

Most importantly your presentation should include a discussion of some of the major astronomical concepts your model demonstrates and how you modeled them. The presentation will have a time limit and will be determined later in the semester. In addition each person should present some aspect of your team's model.

Keeping a log book of what you have done,  what went well, and what went wrong will prove useful to you and your team when you put your project and papers/and or presentations together

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The group paper should be a brief description of the astronomy concepts that your team modeled. This would be a good place to discuss the questions that your group asked as you developed your model(s). This paper should be under 5 pages in length typed and double spaced with 12 pt font. Further, this paper should also have discussion concerning some of the problems that your team faced and how you overcame them.

The individual paper also should be under 5 pages, double spaced with 12 pt font. This paper consists of comparing your model with the real solar system. You may decide to focus on three or four concepts that your model compares well or is deficient when compared with the real Solar System (in this project the system is the Earth-Moon-Sun system). Also you should chose another teams model and compare your model with their model. Again you may want to just focus on three or four aspects of your model and how those aspects compare with the other team's model.

One note. I would prefer a digital version of the paper if possible. Any format is fine, that is Microsoft Word, WordPerfect. You could even write the entire paper in HTML if you wish. These papers will accompany your projects on the web.

The requirements for this project are left up to you. You may want to read the about project 3 page for some ideas and some beginning questions.

Keeping a log book of what you have done, what went well and what went wrong will prove useful to you and your team when you put your project and papers and/or presentations together.

There may also be grading amongst each group. This will consist of a brief report by each student in the group concerning their contribution to their group's project and the other member of the group to their project.

Upon completion of this project your team will be expected to put together a web page or a paper describing what your team did and what features your model have. Your team will also be expected to present your model to the entire class.

Presentation:

The presentation should consist of a description of your model (e.g. the scaling parameters that were used). The presentation should also include a discussion of how it compares with the real solar system (e.g. elliptical orbits are difficult to model, so how does that affect your model?). Lastly, there should a brief discussion describing what you would do differently if you could begin your model from scratch.

Most importantly your presentation should include a discussion of some of the major astronomical concepts your model demonstrates and how you modeled them. The presentation will have a time limit and will be determined later in the semester. In addition each person should present some aspect of your team's model.

Keeping a log book of what you have done, what went well and what went wrong will prove useful to you and your team when you put your project and papers together.