An Overview
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1. About the vignette
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2. Setting the stage for learning about galaxies
and science
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3. An Astronomical Mystery
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On a field trip to look at astronomical objects (including several "fuzzy"
ones), the teacher sparks some curiosity by introducing the "Astronomical
Mystery Object" (the Andromeda Galaxy) and discusses what was seen. The
class decides to request datadsets for other "fuzzy objects" through Hands-on
Universe to compare with the Mystery Object.
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4. Researching and Publishing
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Once the images are received, the students discuss the patterns they discover
in the images. The teacher challenges the students to learn enough about
the Mystery Object to be able to publish a press release about its nature.
In small groups, the students come up with theories about the nature of
the Mystery Object and learn more about galaxy structure from a Hands-on
Universe turtorial. They assemble their publication and upload it to the
CaMILE site for evaluation and response from other teachers, students,
and scientists.
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5. Moving to Modeling
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The teacher helps the students generate questions about the patterns they
noticed when investigating galaxy structure. She then explains to them
the difficulty scientists encounter when trying to study difficult-to-observe
phenomena and discusses how scientists use various methods to model them.
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6. Using Modeling Technology
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Using animations from the World Wide Web, the teacher shows some examples
of modeling and introduces them to the MASTER software package GalaxSee.
She presents a lesson that demonstrates the programs capacities and functions
and then initiates the guided activity, "intruder galaxy," to let the students
experiment with an actual simulation. The students use the GalaxSee
program to investigate how one galaxy affects another and publish their
findings on CaMILE. A scientist responds to their reports, helping them
to see what kinds of questions and comments scientist make about original
research. The students begin collaboration with a class in another school
on a related project.
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7. View the entire vignette.
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