Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

Practical activities for middle/high school students using authentic data to explore astrophysical phenomena. Students analyze real spectral data to identify star types and compositions, understanding spectroscopy's role in revealing stellar properties. They observe sunspots through solar images to study solar cycles, calculate the Wolf number, and determine solar rotation velocity, deepening knowledge of solar activity like flares. Additionally, students calculate the Moon’s phase angle from actual images to understand lunar phases. These activities, using authentic datasets from SDSS, NASA, IRIS, and SOHO, connect theory with real astrophysical data for experiential learning.

Biography:

Danijela Takač is a Physics and Astronomy teacher in a middle school in Zagreb, Croatia. She is a member of the NAEC team as well as the chairman of educational sections of both Croatian Astronomical Society as well as Croatian Physics Society. She is very passionate about improving the status of Astronomy in Croatian curriculum as well as providing teacher with teacher training in Astronomy. She is also Erasmus+ ambassador that helps schools write projects within EU.