Astronomy education and culture

AbstractThe 2020 pandemics has brought about a revolution in education, thanks to the pervasiveness of online teaching. Contents, methods and techniques can now be rapidly shared across the globe. On the downside, a number of disciplines have been neglected or dropped altogether. Our paper aims to address the following questions: How has Astronomy in culture been affected? Why is it important to keep it alive? What are the solutions? We suggest that it has been dismissed for two reasons: first, it is perceived as a niche topic – some sort of erudite chatter about non-essential curiosities – that can be sacrificed in favour of more practical information; second, it is heavily culture-specific, meaning that it requires extra effort from the teachers, as it cannot be easily copied or translated from other sources.

Download Full-text

Web-Based Teaching Systems and Technologies

Strategies and Technologies for Developing Online Computer Labs for Technology-Based Courses ◽

10.4018/978-1-59904-507-8.ch002 ◽

2011 ◽

pp. 32-63

Author(s):

Lee Chao

Keyword(s):

Online Teaching ◽

Internet Technology ◽

Teaching Materials ◽

Web Based ◽

Computer Lab ◽

Extra Effort ◽

Technology Tools ◽

Hands On ◽

Computer Labs

In Chapter 1, you are given a brief overview about Web-based teaching and technology-based courses. The discussion in Chapter 1 indicates that Web-based teaching is heavily dependent on technologies, especially for technology-based courses and extra effort is needed to implement Web-based teaching for technology-based courses. As technology advances, even those technology-based courses that depend on a computer lab can be taught one hundred percent online. Students are able to access the computers specially designed for their courses via the Internet. Technology tools have been assisting us in achieving this goal. It will be beneficial for the development of an online computer lab if we can better understand the functionalities of the technologies involved and the role played by these technologies. In this chapter, we will discuss the issues related to the technology tools that are commonly used to create online teaching materials, manage Web-based teaching (WBT) systems, and develop online computer labs. An overview will be given about what the technologies can do and how we can use them in creating online teaching materials. After those technologies are introduced, we will exam the types of Web-based teaching systems that require online computer labs to support hands-on practice.

Download Full-text

Incentivizing Adjunct Faculty Participation in Professional Development

Handbook of Research on Inclusive Development for Remote Adjunct Faculty in Higher Education - Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development ◽

10.4018/978-1-7998-6758-6.ch012 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 162-175

Author(s):

Lori J. Cooper

Keyword(s):

Professional Development ◽

Online Education ◽

Adjunct Faculty ◽

Online Teaching ◽

Faculty Members ◽

Teaching Methodology ◽

Faculty Participation ◽

Development Programs ◽

Effective Learning ◽

Methods And Techniques

Without professional development, faculty members may not stay current in their methods and techniques for teaching, which can translate into a less effective learning environment for students. With online education and programs growing in an upward trend, it is imperative that faculty members have access to professional development that support current online teaching methodology and pedagogical/andrological practices. Turning to motivational methods may increase the level of engagement with professional development, where adjunct faculty members feel they are rewarded for their time and participation. This chapter uses motivation theories as a framework to review the existing literature on incentives for online adjunct faculty members who engage in professional development and the best practices for professional development. Colleges and universities can use this information to establish professional development programs and practices that may increase the level of online adjunct faculty members' participation in professional development opportunities.

Download Full-text

Effective Tools and Methods of Online Teaching Russian as a Foreign Language: on the Materials of the Teachers Survey

Chuzhdoezikovo Obuchenie-Foreign Language Teaching ◽

10.53656/for21.51effe ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 48 (5) ◽

pp. 465-476

Author(s):

Olga Anciferova ◽

◽

Leonid Moskovkin ◽

Keyword(s):

Foreign Language ◽

Direct Contact ◽

Online Teaching ◽

Video Conferencing ◽

Electronic Textbooks ◽

Innovative Methods ◽

Training Materials ◽

Methods And Techniques ◽

Pdf Format ◽

Tools And Methods

This paper presents data on effective tools and methods of online learning obtained during a survey of 72 teachers of Russian as a foreign language working in various universities in St. Petersburg. The questionnaire, which included 7 open and closed questions, was created taking into account the features of the online lesson: reliance on cloud platforms for video conferencing, the dominant nature of visual perception of information, the need to constantly maintain the attention of students, and the lack of direct contact between the teacher and students. During the survey, it was found that the effectiveness of online teaching Russian as a foreign language, according to teachers, depends on the technical capabilities of cloud platforms for video conferencing, the use of both traditional textbooks in PDF format, and electronic textbooks as well as teachers' own training materials. Also it depends on the use of slide presentations, additional audio and video materials of both educational and non-educational nature, electronic simulators, sites containing game tasks, innovative methods and techniques of teaching.

Download Full-text