Using the GalaxSee Explorer

By presenting Modeling And Simulation Technologies for Education Reform (MASTER) in conjunction with Hands-On Universe (HOU), we put new computer modeling technology in the hands of teachers and students. Using support materials available on the World Wide Web and classroom collaboration, teachers and students can learn about galaxy formation while using the same types of tools that scientists and engineers are now using as an integral part of their work.

The following vignette is an example of how these three powerful resources can complement each other to present science in the classroom as a process of hands-on, real inquiry. In this case, the teacher and students apply the tools' capabilities to an exploration of galaxy formation.

An Overview

1. About the vignette
2. Setting the stage for learning about galaxies and science
3. An Astronomical Mystery: On a field trip to look at astronomical objects (including several "fuzzy" ones), the teacher sparks some curiosity by introducing the "Astronomical Mystery Object" (the Andromeda Galaxy) and discusses what was seen. The class decides to request datasets for other "fuzzy objects" through Hands-on Universe to compare with the Mystery Object.
4. Researching and Publishing: Once the images are received, the students discuss the patterns they discover in the images. The teacher challenges the students to learn enough about the Mystery Object to be able to publish a press release about its nature. In small groups, the students come up with theories about the nature of the Mystery Object and learn more about galaxy structure from a Hands-on Universe tutorial. They assemble their publication and upload it to the CaMILE site for evaluation and response from other teachers, students, and scientists.
5. Moving to Modeling: The teacher helps the students generate questions about the patterns they noticed when investigating galaxy structure. She then explains to them the difficulty scientists encounter when trying to study difficult-to-observe phenomena and discusses how scientists use various methods to model them.
6. Using Modeling Technology: Using animations from the World Wide Web, the teacher shows some examples of modeling and introduces them to the MASTER software package GalaxSee. She presents a lesson that demonstrates the programs capacities and functions and then initiates the guided activity, "intruder galaxy," to let the students experiment with an actual simulation. The students use the GalaxSee program to investigate how one galaxy affects another and publish their findings on CaMILE. A scientist responds to their reports, helping them to see what kinds of questions and comments scientist make about original research. The students begin collaboration with a class in another school on a related project.
7. View the entire vignette.

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