Chris Impey
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View article: Motivation, demographics, and engagement during COVID-19 in an astrobiology massive open online course
Motivation, demographics, and engagement during COVID-19 in an astrobiology massive open online course Open
Massive open online courses (MOOCs) experienced a resurgence in popularity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In this work, we studied participants in an astrobiology MOOC offered on Coursera since April 2019. Using a modified version of the Sc…
View article: Human Enhancement and Our Future Off-Earth
Human Enhancement and Our Future Off-Earth Open
After over a half century when the Space Race was dominated by the world’s only two superpowers, a commercial space industry is emerging. Reusable rockets are lowering the cost to reach Earth orbit, and a growing number of civilians are go…
View article: Using Large Language Models for Automated Grading of Student Writing about Science
Using Large Language Models for Automated Grading of Student Writing about Science Open
Assessing writing in large classes for formal or informal learners presents a significant challenge. Consequently, most large classes, particularly in science, rely on objective assessment tools such as multiple-choice quizzes, which have …
View article: Exploring the Frontiers of Space in 3D
Exploring the Frontiers of Space in 3D Open
An immersive, virtual exhibit of large telescopes and space missions is described. The exhibit overcomes the difficulty members of the public have in appreciating the scale and complexity of modern, astronomical research facilities. Using …
View article: EXPLORING THE FRONTIERS OF SPACE IN 3D
EXPLORING THE FRONTIERS OF SPACE IN 3D Open
Title: Exploring the Frontiers of Space in 3D Presenter: Chris Impey (University of Arizona, USA) Collaborators:Alexander Denehy (University of Arizona, USA)Metthew Wenger (University of Arizona, USA) This was a poster presented at the 5th…
View article: Using Large Language Models for Automated Grading of Student Writing about Science
Using Large Language Models for Automated Grading of Student Writing about Science Open
A challenge in teaching large classes for formal or informal learners is assessing writing. As a result, most large classes, especially in science, use objective assessment tools like multiple choice quizzes. The rapid maturation of AI has…
View article: Black Holes in Science and the Arts
Black Holes in Science and the Arts Open
Black holes exert an inexorable grip on the imagination. They were predicted by the theory of general relativity, but even the author of the theory, Albert Einstein, thought they were purely mathematical constructs. When massive stars die,…
View article: Knowing the Universe: Teaching the History and Philosophy of Astronomy
Knowing the Universe: Teaching the History and Philosophy of Astronomy Open
Astronomy is the oldest science, with connections to development of the most important concepts in physics. A course is described that covers its evolution from prehistory to modern cosmology, giving due weight to the philosophical implica…
View article: Video as a Vehicle for Astronomy Education and Outreach
Video as a Vehicle for Astronomy Education and Outreach Open
Video is an excellent vehicle for astronomy education and outreach. Usage patterns and user demographics are presented for short videos covering a variety of astronomy topics, delivered to public audiences from three websites, three YouTub…
View article: Unbound: Ethics, Law, Sustainability, and the New Space Race
Unbound: Ethics, Law, Sustainability, and the New Space Race Open
We are witnessing a new space race. A half century after the last Moon landing, and after a decade during which the United States could not launch its own astronauts to Earth orbit, there is new energy in the space activity. China has huge…
View article: Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges
Future space missions and human enhancement: Medical and ethical challenges Open
Future human space missions to Mars and beyond may be realized for different research, economic, political or survival reasons. Since space remains a hazardous environment for humans, space exploration and exploitation requires the develop…
View article: MOOCS and 100 Days of COVID: Enrollment surges in massive open online astronomy classes during the coronavirus pandemic
MOOCS and 100 Days of COVID: Enrollment surges in massive open online astronomy classes during the coronavirus pandemic Open
One side-effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been increased enrollment in online classes. The paper explores the surge in activity from March through June 2020 in two massive open online classes (MOOCs) on Astronomy, offered by Coursera an…
View article: Higher Education Online and the Developing World
Higher Education Online and the Developing World Open
Higher Education Online and the Developing World Chris Impey Abstract Higher education has an enormous potential to provide economic opportunities and career advancement for people in developing countries. Technology and the Internet can h…
View article: Online Resources for Astronomy Education and Outreach
Online Resources for Astronomy Education and Outreach Open
The growth of the Internet has facilitated the easy availability of resources for teaching astronomy and doing astronomy outreach. This overview concentrates on resources that are free or open access. Basic teaching materials like textbook…
View article: Relationship between learners’ motivation and course engagement in an astronomy massive open online course
Relationship between learners’ motivation and course engagement in an astronomy massive open online course Open
In this work we study how different motivations of learners relate to their engagement in a massive open online course (MOOC). The research was conducted in a cohort-based astronomy MOOC “Astronomy: Exploring Time and Space” provided throu…
View article: The development and validation of the Planet Formation Concept Inventory
The development and validation of the Planet Formation Concept Inventory Open
The discovery and characterisation of planets orbiting distant stars has shed light on the origin of our own Solar System. It is important that college-level introductory astronomy students have a general understanding of the planet format…
View article: When it comes to teaching and tenure it is time to walk the walk
When it comes to teaching and tenure it is time to walk the walk Open
Institutions should value teaching and service, and not just research, when considering faculty for promotion and tenure
View article: The development and validation of the Planet Formation Concept Inventory
The development and validation of the Planet Formation Concept Inventory Open
The discovery and characterisation of planets orbiting distant stars has shed light on the origin of our own Solar System. It is important that college-level introductory astronomy students have a general understanding of the planet format…
View article: Online Astronomy for Formal and Informal Learners
Online Astronomy for Formal and Informal Learners Open
An increasing amount of formal and informal education is being delivered online. A majority of college students in the U.S. are now taking one or more courses online or flipped (video lectures online, hands-on activities or labs in the cla…
View article: The development and validation of the Planet Formation Concept Inventory
The development and validation of the Planet Formation Concept Inventory Open
The discovery and characterisation of planets orbiting distant stars has shed light on the origin of our own Solar System. It is important that college-level introductory astronomy students have a general understanding of the planet format…