Astronomy and Writing: An Innovative Approach to Science Instruction

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Astronomy and Writing: An Innovative Approach to Science Instruction The goal of this project is to help incoming students develop critical thinking skills and a better understanding of basic scientific principles. The goal of the project is to construct an astronomy workbook which utilizes both math and writing. At New Mexico State University a large portion of the student body is Hispanic, so particular care is being given to constructing exercises appropriate to this group. The workbook will utilize the techniques of "Writing-Across-the-Curriculum" (WAC). Numerous investigations have found that a strong relation exists between writing and learning. Writing has also been shown to be an effective tool in physics and math instruction. The project is designed to exploit the values of writing as a learning tool in astronomy. The incorporation of WAC techniques into a beginning astronomy class, at this level, is a unique experiment. The intent is that the project serve as a prototype for future efforts in the physical sciences at New Mexico State University and that the material developed here be transportable to other institutions.