Thinking About The Stars - Mental Models In Astronomy

Talk
Student interest in astronomy and other subjects: research and practical experience
4th Shaw-IAU Workshop
Tuesday Nov. 15, 2022
UTC: 4:30 p.m. - 4:50 p.m. America/New_York: 11:30 a.m.- 11:50 a.m.
Thursday Nov. 17, 2022
UTC: 10 a.m. - 10:20 a.m. America/New_York: 5 a.m.- 5:20 a.m.

Knowing students' mental models is an important step in teaching science. There are many pre-conceptions that students bring to the classroom and that determine their way of thinking about the world. In this talk, several prominent mental models in astronomy held by students are presented, as well as how researchers go about obtaining them. Additionally, a common process of mental model development is discussed using the example of black holes.

About Malte Ubben

Dr. Malte Ubben is an educational researcher at the WWU Münster. His main area of research is the development of mental models in sciences, especially in quantum physics and astronomy/astrophysics.

Watch a recording of this talk (external link)