About HOA
  Introduction
 Foreward
Using HOA
  National
Standards
  Variable Stars
  About AAVSO
  Credits
  Home

Using HOA

The HOA Manual addresses a wide range of grade levels (middle school through introductory college) and student abilities. It is flexible enough to meet the needs of the teachers and instructors of any of these grades. The following descriptions will tell you:
  1. The conceptual framework around which the curriculum was built;
  2. Several suggestions for presenting sequences of chapters and activities for specific student audiences.
The emphasis in this curriculum is on variable star observation, and so this manual is not intended to be a comprehensive astronomy textbook. There is, however, sufficient coverage here of most topics in elementary astronomy. You do not need any prior knowledge of astronomy or variable stars or physics to use this curriculum.

1) Conceptual Framework

This curriculum supports the National Standards for Science and Math Education by directly involving students in the scientific process. Students are taught the necessary skills to make observations, analyze their data with graphing and statistical techniques, make predictions, and compare predicted and observational values, as well as learn how to develop sophisticated mathematical models. Except for a few exercises in skill development, there are no “right” answers in this curriculum. The data obtained and the results of the analysis of those data by students is the “right” answer. In variable star astronomy, what you see is what you get. The amount of data and the mathematical refinement techniques will give reasonably accurate results. Students will understand that their observations can be reliable, and that their data can be useful enough to be used by professional astronomers.

Each unit contains a paragraph which describes the specific National Science Standards and Benchmarks themes, concepts, and content addressed in its chapters.

This is a curriculum on variable star observation; it is neither an astronomy course nor a statistics course. The information within the chapters has this purpose: to inform students about variable stars and their importance to the professional astronomical community, and to give them the necessary information and skills to study variable star behavior or to become amateur variable star observers. Therefore only the astronomy, math, and skills directly associated with variable stars are contained within these pages. However, interdisciplinary connections exist within the chapter introductions, Space Talks, and Poster Pages (explained below), and historical aspects of variable star astronomy have also been included. Thus parts of this manual can be used in any science, computer, or math class, as well as in history and English classes. Besides being used as classroom material, the Hands-On Astrophysics (HOA) curriculum can be used for science fair projects, research projects in many disciplines, independent study, and enrichment activities.

Students will be able to access the American Association of Variable Star Observers (AAVSO) International Database, and share their investigations and observations with other students via the internet. Working together is an important aspect of the scientific enterprise which is not usually understood within a traditional classroom setting. Sharing variable star observational activities with students in other geographical locations will enable data collection even when skies are cloudy.

One of the most powerful aspects of this curriculum is that it is intended to be interactive, both for students and instructors. Both will be able to access the AAVSO website and the Hands-On Astrophysics homepage. If you need answers to technical questions or assistance in locating data resources, you will be able to use the HOA website. Instructors can ask questions about any of the activities, or share their own activities with each other. You will be able to communicate with the authors of this curriculum and with professional astronomers and technicians.

If it is impossible for you to introduce your students to the night sky, the HOA curriculum is still of great value. Your students will be able to learn about variable stars by using the activities, software, and slide sets that come with the manual. So even if you are dealing with younger students or with city lights, the students can still study entire sequences of magnitude estimation, light curves, periodicity, phase diagrams, and prediction.

2) Possible Sequences

The material within this curriculum is laid out in sequence, from easiest to most difficult. However, using the complete sequence is only one of many options available. If you have a full or half-year astronomy course at the middle or high school level you may use this option. If you have students with some science and math background at the college or high school level, you may want to leave out the first two units and start with Unit 3. Even though the sequence presented has a specific direction and relationship, the units or chapters can also be used independently. The chapters are related to each other, but do not depend upon one another. Even though you may not have an astronomy, physical science, or math class in which to use this curriculum, you may decide to select certain parts of it to include within an English, history, or biology class. A few of the many options are as follows:

If your interest is solely in variable star observations and data analysis, or you have college or high school students:

  1. Core Activity 6.5: Collecting Your Own Data
  2. Chapter 7: Observing Variable Stars in the Sky
  3. Unit 5: Analysis of Variable Stars
    • Chapter 10: Statistical Concepts
    • Chapter 11: Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity
    • Chapter 12: Variable Stars and Phase Diagrams
    • Chapter 13: Variable Stars and O-C Diagrams
If you have middle school students:
  1. Unit 1: Planets and Stars
    • Chapter 1: The Solar System and Beyond
    • Chapter 2: The Nature of Stars
  2. Unit 2: Introducing the Sky
    • Chapter 3: Familiarizing Yourself with the Night Sky
  3. Unit 3: Observing Variable Stars
    • Chapter 5: Introducing the Hands-On Astrophysics Constellations
    • Chapter 6: Measuring Variable Stars Visually
    • Chapter 7: Observing Variable Stars in the Real Sky
      (OMIT if your students are unable to observe at night)
  4. Unit 5: Analysis of Variable Stars
    • Chapter 10: Statistical Concepts
    • Chapter 11: Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity
If you have a computer or statistics class:
  1. Core Activity 6.5: Collecting Your Own Data
  2. Unit 5: Analysis of Variable Stars
    • Chapter 10: Statistical Concepts
    • Chapter 11: Variable Stars, Light Curves, and Periodicity
    • Chapter 12: Variable Stars and Phase Diagrams
    • Chapter 13: Variable Stars and O-C Diagrams
If you have a physics or physical science class:
  1. Unit 4: The Message of Light
    • Chapter 8: The Nature of Light
    • Chapter 9: The Life of a Star

Summary

The Hands-On Astrophysics (HOA) curriculum can be a complete course of study, or you can use individual chapters or any combination of chapters.

The content is useful in astronomy, physical science, mathematics, and computer classes, and has interdisciplinary connections that make it appropriate for history or English classes, or public education programs.

The material is appropriate for middle school through introductory college level, depending upon the chapters selected.

The curriculum is self-contained: no prior knowledge of astronomy, variable star astronomy, or physics is necessary.

HOA actively involves students in the scientific process through observation, data collection, graphical and computer analysis, mathematical models, prediction, and assessment of prediction and further observation.

HOA participants can access the AAVSO International Database and talk directly with others engaged in variable star observing. They can also communicate with the AAVSO headquarters staff via the AAVSO website.

 
HOA Toolbar