Spatial Thinking in Astronomy Education: Bridging Gaps through Linguistic and Cognitive Perspectives
PosterEvaluation and Astronomy Education Research
5th Shaw-IAU Workshop
Wednesday Nov. 29, 2023
UTC: 8 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. America/New_York: 3 p.m.- 4:30 p.m.
, Friday Dec. 1, 2023
UTC: 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. America/New_York: 5 a.m.- 6:30 a.m.
Saeed Jafari
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kurdistan)
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In the realm of astronomy and physics, the paramount role of spatial thinking in exploration, comprehension, and transmission is firmly established. Understanding many astronomical phenomena requires spatial thinking skills, and astronomy is no exception. Functioning in our three-dimensional world in particular in astronomy requires spatial thinking about shapes, locations, and paths of objects along with relationships among objects and frames of reference (Newcombe, 2015). This talk shares the striking absence of spatial thinking and its potential impact on astronomy education, as well as examples of how to teach astronomical phenomena and celestial concepts in different linguistic and cultural contexts. Additionally, I will discuss the current state of spatial thinking in education.
Biography:
Saeed Jafari is a science communicator and a science journalist. He has completed his studies in linguistics at the University of Kurdistan. He serves as regional executive secretary - Middle East in Space Generation Advisory Council. For more than ten years, Saeed has led astronomy communication, outreach and education for many organisations and institutions, and currently researches public understanding of science in media, technology and society. He co-founded Under Iran Sky programme, an open online astronomy education platform in Iran, and also is the developer of several innovative projects that aim to involve the general public in active astronomy communication. Saeed has also been appointed as Chair of IRAN NAEC team since 2020.
