Astronomy Literacy Goals

1. Astronomy Literacy Goals
Erik Arends
Universe Awareness, Leiden Observatory
September 9th 2014
Cascais, Portugal

2. Astronomy Literacy Goals
• Benchmark for advancement of astronomy
education
• Framework for educators around the globe as
starting point
• Based on AAAS goals for 2061
• Idea: Literate public sees Halley

4. Why Literacy?
• Science literacy
▫ Wide-spread science capital
▫ Understanding of technology
▫ Science/Technical jobs
▫ Democracy
▫ Scientific reasoning

5. Why Literacy?
• Astronomy literacy
▫ Part of science literacy
 Catalyst for other subjects
▫ Global citizenship
▫ Cultural heritage

6. General method other
literacy documents
• Draft document
• Meetings with community
• Revision
• Online public review
• Revision
• Expert review
• Launch
• Updates

7. Method: Start
• Starting point: AAAS Project 2061 - Benchmarks
for Science Literacy (1993)
▫ Section: The Physical Setting
• Subtract astronomy parts
• For global use: age groups
• Add learning goals from Universe in a Box

8. Method: New Goals
• Add evolved subjects
▫ Exoplanets
▫ Cosmology
▫ Climate Change
• Add UNAWE goals
▫ Perspective on pale blue dot
▫ Astronomy culture

9. Method: Literature Review
• Division into age groups: literature research
▫ Look for lower age limit of understanding
▫ Difference: with or without instruction
 Without: current status of education
 With: capability of understanding
▫ Not fully researched area
▫ Establish per topic a lower age limit

10. Method: Survey
• Initial feedback
▫ 1 astronomer
▫ 2 secondary school teachers (specialist)
▫ 2 primary school teachers (specialist)
• Future: Large survey
▫ Secondary school teachers
▫ Primary school teachers

11. Method: Feedback
• Feedback from astronomy education community
▫ Consisting of:

12. Method: Feedback
• Feedback from astronomy education community
▫ Consisting of:
YOU!

13. Method: Feedback
• List handed out with link to online form
• Please fill this out!

14. Timeline
• July ‘14: 1st draft
• August ‘14: 2nd draft (small survey)
• September ‘14: 3rd draft (community survey)
• November ‘14: 4th draft (large teacher survey)
• January ‘15: 1st version (Review IAU C45+OAD
TF2)
• August ’15: Presentation IAU General Assembly
• Final version
• Regular revision