Great Ideas for Teaching Astronomy (Paperback)

~ Stephen Pompea (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Written and revised in response to requests from teachers for ideas that can be used to improve astronomy teaching, this new expanded edition offers dozens of ideas, demonstrations, and analogies gathered from over 40 teachers around the world.

About the Author

Stephen M. Pompea is an Adjunct Associate Astronomer at Steward Observatory, University of Arizona. He has served as an Associate Scientist on the Gemini 8-Meter Telescopes Project and as Instrument Scientist for the NICMOS (Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer) Project for the Hubble Space Telescope. His major research interests include star formation processes in galaxies, development of ultrablack surfaces for space telescopes, adaptive and active optics, telescope and instrument design, and stray light and contamination issues in optical systems. He is the inventor of Infrablack, a surface that is one of the world's blackest from the ultraviolet to the submillimeter region and is used to reduce glare in space telescopes. Dr. Pompea has served as an educational consultant to NASA, the Denver Museum of Natural History, the state of Nebraska, and the Denver and Houston public school districts, as well as a number of private schools and curriculum programs. He has given numerous workshops devoted to improving science teaching and to the training of secondary school and college science faculty. Dr. Pompea is also well known for his Galileo historical drama presentations delivered in full costume.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Brooks Cole; 3 edition (July 12, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0534373011
• ISBN-13: 978-0534373016
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #797,531 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astronomy Teachers Look No Further!, April 25, 2002

By	T. Slater (Tucson, AZ) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This resource, Great Ideas for Teaching Astronomy, is absolutely amazing. Dr. Pompea has collected hundreds of short descriptions of teaching strategies and resources in one easy to access book. For example, regarding light and the electromagnetic spectrum, there are more than 20 demonstrations and analogies that could be used to help students. There is also information on creating successful public outreach programs. There is even an annotated bibliography of research articles in astronomy misconceptions with nearly 40 references. Every astronomy teacher should have a copy of this whether they are a novice or an experienced teacher of many years. In short, this book serves as the central foundation of my astronomy teaching tool kit and I use it all of the time.