Moon Phases - EAGER

Moon Phases is an NSF-funded project that developed and tested a prototype visualization lab designed to help middle schoolers understand why the moon appears to have phases when observed from Earth. This project leveraged a partnership between the World Wide Telescope Ambassadors program and learning scientists on the WISE team to combine the big data and visualization capabilities of astronomers with technology-rich middle school science curriculum in order to enhance online learning and educational research. The approaches developed through this project offer a model for engaging students and promoting learning through access to the big data and tools of scientists and resulted in free curricula for learning about moon phases, astronomy, and how astronomers do science. (IIS-1254535)

NSF-EAGER Moon Phases Publications

Udomprasert P, Goodman A, Sadler P, Johnson E, Lotridge E, Jackson J, Constantin A-M, Zhang ZH, Sunbury S, Wang Q, et al. Optimal Model-Order for a Moon Phases Lab with Virtual and Physical Components, in American Educational Research Association. Chicago, IL ; 2015.Abstract

We designed a middle school lab experience to help students understand the cause of the Moon’s phases, using a combination of physical models (styrofoam balls and lamps) and computer models (WorldWide Telescope, WWT). We tested how model order (Foam then WWT, vs. WWT then Foam) would impact student learning.

Udomprasert P, Goodman AA, Sunbury S, Zhang Z, Sadler PM, Dussault ME, Lotridge E, Jackson J, Constantin A. Visualizing Moon Phases in the Classroom with WorldWide Telescope, in American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #223. Washington, DC: American Astronomical Society ; 2014. Publisher's VersionAbstract

We report results from an NSF-funded project to build, test, and research the impact of a WorldWide Telescope Visualization Lab (WWT Vizlab), meant to offer learners a deeper physical understanding of the causes of the Moon’s phases and eclipses. The Moon Phases VizLab is designed to promote accurate visualization of the complex, 3-dimensional Earth-Sun-Moon relationships required to understand the Moon’s phases, while also providing opportunities for middle school students to practice critical science skills, like using models, making predictions and observations, and linking them in evidence-based explanations. In the Moon Phases VizLab, students use both computer-based models and lamp + ball physical models. The VizLab emphasizes the use of different scales in models, why some models are to scale and some are not, and how choices we make in a model can sometimes inadvertently lead to misconceptions. For example, textbook images almost always depict the Earth and Moon as being vastly too close together, and this contributes to the common misconception that the Moon’s phases are caused by the Earth’s shadow. We tested the Moon Phases VizLab in two separate phases. In Phase 1 (fall 2012), we compared learning gains from the WorldWide Telescope (WWT) VizLab with a traditional 2-dimensional Moon phases simulator. Students in this study who used WWT had overall higher learning gains than students who used the traditional 2D simulator, and demonstrated greater enthusiasm for using the virtual model than students who used the 2D simulator. In Phase 2 (spring 2013), all students in the study used WWT for the virtual model, but we experimented with different sequencing of physical and virtual models in the classroom. We found that students who began the unit with higher prior knowledge of Moon phases (based on the pre-unit assessment) had overall higher learning gains when they used the virtual model first, followed by the physical model, while students who had lower prior knowledge benefited from using the physical model first, then the virtual model.

Udomprasert P, Goodman A, Sunbury S, Zhang ZH, Sadler P, Dussault M, Block S, Lotridge E, Jackson J, Constantin A. Visualizing Moon Phases with WorldWide Telescope, in Cosmos in the Classroom, 125th Annual Meeting. San Jose, CA: Astronomical Society of the Pacific ; 2014.Abstract

We report preliminary results from an NSF-funded project to build, test, and research the impact of a WorldWide Telescope Visualization Lab (WWT Vizlab), meant to oer learners a deeper physical understanding of the causes of the Moon’s phases. The Moon Phases VizLab is designed to promote accurate visualization of the complex, 3-dimensional Earth-Sun-Moon relationships required to understand the Moon’s phases, while also providing opportunities for middle school students to practice critical science skills, like using models, making predictions and observations, and linking them in evidence-based explanations. In the VizLab, students use both computer-based models and lamp + ball physical models.    

We present findings from the first two phases of the study - one where we compared learning gains from the WWT VizLab with a traditional 2-dimensional Moon phases simulator; and another where we experimented with different ways of blending physical and virtual models in the classroom.

Presented July 20-24, 2013.

Udomprasert P, Goodman A, Sunbury, S., Zhang ZH, Sadler P, Dussault M, Lotridge, E., Jackson J, Constantin A. Visualizing Three-Dimensional Spatial Relationships in Virtual and Physical Astronomy Environments, in International Conference of the Learning Sciences. Boulder, CO ; 2014.Abstract

We give a brief overview of some key features of WorldWide Telescope and its Ambassadors Program, and we describe two goals for expanding the program in the coming year: scaling up training efforts; and developing “plug and play” Visualization Lab modules that teach key Earth and Space Science concepts to students while emphasizing important scientific processes and skills. We discuss several different ways that members of the astronomy education and outreach community can incorporate WWT-based materials into their work.

NSF-EAGER Moon Phases Presentations