What can astronomy education learn from physics education research?
What we have learned: Extracting the core
This model may look ridiculous, but we often behave as we believe it!
A better model
from cognitive science
Learning is about building long-term memory
Which picture has more
information?
Which is easier to interpret?
Physical reasoning maps primitive elements onto specific situations
Organization of Long-Term Memory: Schemas
A small problem:
What is 3 ½ divided by ¼?
Summary:
Basic cognitive principles
Summary:
Instructional implications
Designing a course:
A question
Designing a course:
Choosing goals
Designing a
course:
Some cognitive goals
Designing a course
to achieve these goals
Designing a course:
A few specifics