The choice of course material will have a lot to do with the load on the instructor. So far we have, I think...

Course Material:
..... Web based [antoniseb/George]
.......... Wiki books (similar to or upgrade these “books”) [Fraser 17/davidlpf 20/Tobin Dax 21]
..... Actual textbook [George]
..... Create a new one [George]
.......... Parcel out the lesson creations [Kelfazin 19]
….. CGI [Argos 24]

I favor the Wiki books idea at this point. The development done here would greatly contribute there. However, this would be a fair amount of work. Yet, many of us will likely get involved. The instructor might serve more as an organizer and editor, perhaps.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

I completely agree. I had mentioned earlier that multiple instructors would be the way to go so that lectures could be divided among those that have particular interest/knowledge/insight into each topic could get started on development of the more difficult topics while the basics/refresher stuff was being covered.

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I was just sitting here contemplating the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"

"Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." --Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot"

So in this setup there are multiple contributors and one instructor? Since the lessons would not be derived from an existing textbook, if the contributors had a disagreement, the instructor would step in and provide the "official" answer? I guess I'm a little confused, could you walk through the steps this kind of lesson would take?

And just for edification, I don't think the instructors should create a new textbook, just a curriculum, similar to school teachers use an existing book to create a lesson plan. ie: read the chapter, have a lecture on that chapter, then have a question answer period about the lecture/chapter, which would actually fit with any of the above course material concepts

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I was just sitting here contemplating the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"

"Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." --Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot"

Here is one suggestion....
The instructor can post all the subtopics he/she would like others to provide material and research. We students could pick and choose ones we liked and put our names down as potential helpers. Assignments would then be given out accordingly. When each assignment is complete, it would go directly to the instructor for review. It would then be edited and compiled with the other subtopics to complete the chapter. Once complete, it would then be introduced as the student material for the class.

This allows a great deal of personal involvement with the course. Judging by the calibre of people here, I think it just might work.

That was how I orginally saw it and recommended a couple of good textbooks, not that there are not better ones. However, the Wiki books idea I think would be more enjoyable due to the personal involvement. Also, Wiki books would greatly benefit by our efforts, thus giving us further reward.

We need antoniseb's thoughts on this, as well as, any other experienced teacher (even if they aren't able to get involved). It is important not to overburden anyone. Hopefully, we can figure out the maximum amount of juice we can get for a minimal amount of squeeze.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Okay, I've stickied the topic. Just to keep it visible.

I also vote for the Wikibooks direction. No need to duplicate our efforts. They've got a good structure that we can invade and improve.

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Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today - Free space news delivered by email every weekday.

Thanks for making the sticky fraser, I vote for the wikibooks direction as well.
I can probably do alot of basic research on a couple of ares that we have to ourselves and maybe flesh out a couple of the sections that wikibooks has already done. I do not CGI and will need held doing any graphics.

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If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space.
Contact Carl Sagan

So in effect the students would be writing the book? This is ok, except that means each student would only learn the subtopic they had chosen, and then it would be self-teaching with guidance. Not exactly the more formal approach to getting an education in astronomy I was hoping for. I've already been self-teaching astronomy

Maybe a different way would be to tackle each chapter of the Wiki one at a time as a class. The instructor chooses the subject, provides the lecture/Q&A, and then as a class we write up/edit the Wiki entry? While that is happening a different instructor could be prepping the lecture for the next chapter.

I like the idea of using the Wikibook for course material as well. It's the most logical approach, and makes a contribution to science education on the internet at the same time.

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I was just sitting here contemplating the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"

"Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." --Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot"

I'd be interested in the course.
I have fairly good basic math but would have to relearn calculus if that enters into it.
I did take freshman physics too but that was 30 years ago as well.
As far as astronomy goes I can identify Casseopia, Orion and the Big Dipper but have no idea what time of year they are visible or where to start looking for them in the sky, so I am basically illiterate about it.
I inherited a small tripod mounted telescope with az. and el. gearing but I use it for looking at deer and other animals on the far shore of our small lake.
So yes, I'd be interested but a little nervous about handling it.

If this is a go will we get an e-mail notice in advance of the start?

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"Man has always found it easier to sacrifice his life than learn the multiplication table." - Somerset Maugham

Well the instructor or contributors will probably will do most of the work and everyone can ask questions or point out flaws in grammer spelling or see something wrong (like editors). Some people are better in some areas then others would be, so we can of teach each other to a point as well.

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If it's just us, it seems like an awful waste of space.
Contact Carl Sagan

No, because no one would see the chapter material until the chapter was compiled and edited by the instructor; the students would not offer their work to the rest of the class.

Somehow the instructor will need to receive help as a good class text with images and illustrations is typically 300 to 400 pages long. It would be unfair to burden any instructor, or group of instructors for that matter, with such a daunting task. Wiki books for astronomy is only about 20 or 30 pages long, though I only glanced at it, far short of a class textbook.

The Wiki route will not be easy but I still vote for it, also. Here is one outline scenario to help...
1) The instructor could issue a list of subtopics in a thread dedicated to this task.
2) Students could volunteer their name for the subtopic they would like to assist the instructor in preparing for the final presentation.
3)The instructor would assign the subtopics out to the students of choice. Maybe even several students could help prepare a subtopic. [This is strictly volunteer effort.]
4) The students would submit their material only to the instructor and by a given date.
5) The instructor, along with competent others, would edit the material as necessary.
6) All the subtopic material would be compiled into a coherent chapter.
7) Only now would this entire new chapter be presented to the class for study.
7b) There could be multiday transitionary period to allow final input from others, including students.
8) Test time. [Just how this is done needs some thought, too.]
9) go back to step one for next chapter.

Yes, that is an alternative as well.

Agreed.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Maybe it is time for a sign-up thread, antoniseb. We each could state which would be a first choice in a course level (100, 200, 300, 400), then a second and third choice.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Ah now I see. Yea that works for me

Re: testing. You know how people have those blog quizzes? Like "Which Lord of the Rings Character are you?" Well I wonder if there is a website that lets you design your own test. Those tests often have html code results that you can post to your blog, maybe we can upload the results to the thread or something. That idea locks you into public test results, though, and I'm not sure we want that. And since the point of this class is to learn, the fact that it would be essentialy open book won't matter.

Just a thought

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I was just sitting here contemplating the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"

"Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." --Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot"

Let me make one thing clear right off the bat -- I'm not trying to step on anyone's toes here. I throw this into the mix solely to inform my fellow BAUTers of what's out there...

Prof. Richard Pogge teaches astronomy at The Ohio State University.

Prof. Pogge is currently teaching Astronomy 161 -- and the class notes AND CLASS LECTURES are available on the web! The lectures are MP3's, and iTunes will work quite nicely as the subscription/download tool [/Voice Of Experience]

Prof. Pogge taught Astronomy 162 in January of 2006 -- and last year's class notes AND CLASS LECTURES (as MP3's) are on the web too! It's unknown at this time if he's going to update this part in January as he's done with the Fall class.

Use it for a guide in setting up a Doctor of BAUTology degree, or just listen for fun (162 is already on my mp3 player, and 161 is going on soon), or just fill up your hard drive to convince the boss you need a new one...

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"If a tree is cut down in the rainforest, and is used to make paper to print a book, and the book is really bad, and there's nobody that will read it, do you still hear a sucking sound?"
Charlie in Dayton, A.AsC.

While I haven't listened to this lecture, it seems likely that it is better prepared than anything I'd be presenting. Nice find Charlie.

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Forming opinions as we speak

Unfortunately, Charlie, it is copyrighted. Even if he gave us permission I doubt it could be added to Wiki books, if that is our direction. It could serve as a guide, I suppose. I'm not clear on all the copyright rules, however.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Before this class gets advertised, we might want to decide if a class size limit should be set, which also should be stated in any public promotion, right?

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

What problems do you foresee from having a large class? Based on that, what limit do you propose we set?

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I was just sitting here contemplating the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"

"Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." --Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot"