Anne Metevier Lead Instructor Hartnell Astronomy Short Course: The Distant Universe

Hartnell Astronomy Short Course What: six-day course on cosmology and galaxy evolution Where/When: first week of August, on Hartnell campus (Salinas) Who: entering, continuing Hartnell community college students Why: Boost students’ research skills so that they are better candidates for: –CfAO internships –Longer-term research projects Practice teaching techniques, new material

CfAO  Hartnell Partnership Hartnell College –Dedicated staff –State-of-the-art planetarium CfAO –Cutting-edge research Bring research to Hartnell students Short course instruction team: –Anne Metevier (UCSC) –Andy Newton (Hartnell) –Mark Ammons (UCSC) –Jennifer Lotz (UCSC) –Pimol Moth (Hartnell) –Lindsey Pollack (UCSC) –Candace Church (UCSC) –YOU!

Course Goals Attitude-based –Build students’ confidence Pursuing science and technology-related degrees and careers Succeeding in research settings –Foster a sense of community Skills-based –Give students practice using research skills Generating questions Transforming observations Developing explanations from evidence Communicating results

Course Goals Content-based –Cosmology-related topics Big Bang theory Expanding Universe Galaxy formation Fate of the Universe –Data that supports theories Relative elemental abundances Hubble’s law COBE/WMAP temp fluctuations Supernovae data –Content related to research projects

Inquiry Activities Question-generating activity –Present unfamiliar image, have students write down questions about it “Research project” –Present data, have students generate questions Galaxy morphologies Rotation curves AGN New station(s)? –Students work in groups of 2-3 with “adviser” on question that interests them –Report results in poster presentation, written abstract Your help needed to revise and teach this activity!

College/Career Counseling “College Brick Road” –Discuss education paths –Students write “life proposals” Career talks –Instructors discuss their career paths Engineering applications Computing applications Personal decisions (family, monetary, etc.) Transfer day –Students meet with transfer counselor at UCSC You!

Positive Outcomes Internship recruitment –Two 2004 students got internships in 2005 Students transferring to 4- year institutions –At least two students already transferred to UCSC Presidents Partnership of Excellence Award –Given to CfAO by Hartnell President in May

Roles for Co-instructors Revise, teach research project inquiry –Review current stations, any changes? –Add new station that interests you more? –Include planetarium in this activity? Career talks Design new cosmic distance ladder activity –Students form groups, each group tackles a “rung” of the ladder

Student Quotes "It has helped me understand and experience having a career in research, and has given me an opportunity to consider this type of job.” "I want to go to graduate school now, whereas I only wanted a BS.” "It was a really good experience [to] work as a scientist. I personally felt like one. Also it was a very good experience working with professional people. I hope I can be one of you one day."