The CfAO's Astronomy Course in COSMOS: Curriculum Design, Rationale, and Application

TL;DR

This paper describes the design, rationale, and implementation of an astronomy course within the COSMOS summer program, emphasizing pedagogical techniques for diverse learners over a six-year period.

Contribution

It presents a detailed account of curriculum development and pedagogical strategies for teaching astronomy to high school students in a summer program.

Findings

Effective pedagogical techniques were employed to engage diverse learners.

The curriculum was iteratively refined based on feedback and educational goals.

The astronomy course served as a core component of the COSMOS program for six years.

Abstract

From 2001 to 2007, COSMOS provided a teaching and outreach venue for the Center for Adaptive Optics Professional Development Program (CfAO PDP). COSMOS is a four-week residential mathematics and science summer program for high-school students organized by the University of California on four of its campuses. Two topical science courses comprised each COSMOS cluster. An astronomy course has always formed a basis for the CfAO PDP-affiliated cluster. The course included a variety of pedagogical techniques to address a diversity of learners and goals. We outline the astronomy course---lectures, activities, etc.---and provide the rationale for what was taught, how it was aught, and when it was taught.