Online Courses for Teachers, Students and the Public

Stage 1: Introduction to Astronomy

Students are introduced to the field of Astronomy with a series of activities and quizzes. They explore the role of Astronomy in science and society. Students engage in discussions about their initial thoughts on Astronomy.

Stage 1: The Night Sky

Using a virtual night sky software students explore the night sky through guided-inquiry activities.

Stage 2: Cultural Astronomy

Using a virtual night sky software students explore the star lore from the Indigenous Australians, and learn how they used astronomy as part of their daily lives.

Stage 2: Objects in the Universe

Students explore the range of objects in the Universe from planets to the vast clusters of galaxies. They learn about the characteristics of each of the objects and where they are found in the Universe.

Stage 3: Observing objects in the Universe

Students having learned about the various objects in the Universe request images of the objects using remote robotic telescopes situated all around the world. They will explore the characteristics of these objects from the images.

Stage 1: Introduction to Astronomy

Students are introduced to the field of Astronomy with a series of activities and quizzes. They explore the role of Astronomy in science and society. Students engage in discussions about their initial thoughts on Astronomy.

Stage 2: The Night Sky

Using a virtual night sky software students explore the night sky through guided-inquiry activities. They learn about how the night sky changes throughout the year and from different locations. This will be vital when they begin their mini-project later in the program.

Stage 2: Cultural Astronomy

Using a virtual night sky software students explore the star lore from the Indigenous Australians, and learn how they used astronomy as part of their daily lives.

Stage 3: Telescopes and Imaging

Students learn about how telescopes work, and the various types of telescopes. They also learn about how telescopes capture images of astronomical objects.

Stage 4: Objects in the Universe

Students explore the range of objects in the Universe from planets to the vast clusters of galaxies. They learn about the characteristics of each of the objects and where they are found in the Universe.

Stages  5 and 6 : Mini Project – Colouring the Universe

This mini project involves students picking an astronomical object of their choice, and using the data from the telescopes to create a colour image of the object.

Stage 1: Introduction to Astronomy

Students are introduced to the field of Astronomy with a series of activities and quizzes. They explore the role of Astronomy in science and society. Students engage in discussions about their initial thoughts on Astronomy.

Stage 2: The Night Sky

Using a virtual night sky software students explore the night sky through guided-inquiry activities. They learn about how the night sky changes throughout the year and from different locations. This will be vital when they begin their mini-project later in the program.

Stage 2: Cultural Astronomy

Using a virtual night sky software students explore the star lore from the Indigenous Australians, and learn how they used astronomy as part of their daily lives.

Stage 3: Telescopes and Imaging

Students learn about how telescopes work, and the various types of telescopes. They also learn about how telescopes capture images of astronomical objects.

Stage 4: Distances in Astronomy

One of the most challenging aspects in Astronomy is appreciating the enormous sizes and scales involved. Students will explore how distances are measured in Astronomy.

Stage 5: Objects in the Universe

Students explore the range of objects in the Universe from planets to the vast clusters of galaxies. They learn about the characteristics of each of the objects and where they are found in the Universe.

Stage 6 : Galaxies

To truly understand the Universe, we need to understand galaxies, as they are vital to the large-scale structure of the Universe. Students explore the various types of the galaxies, their characteristics and how they grow and change.

Stage 7: Photometry

Students learn how astronomers use measurements of light to determine distances.

Stage 8: Making a Hubble plot

Students use archived data from telescopes to make careful measurements to plot the speed and distances to galaxies.

Stage 9: Working out the age of the Universe

Using the Hubble plot students created previously. Students learn how to analyse the Hubble plot and extract information about the Universe.

Stage 10: Evolution of the Universe

Using their newly acquired knowledge explore the evidence for the evolutionary history of the Universe.

The universe contains features including galaxies, stars and solar systems, and the Big Bang theory can be used to explain the origin of the universe

Elaborations

• researching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ knowledge of celestial bodies and explanations of the origin of the universe
• identifying the evidence supporting the Big Bang theory, such as Edwin Hubble’s observations and the detection of microwave radiation
• recognising that the age of the universe can be derived using knowledge of the Big Bang theory
• describing how the evolution of the universe, including the formation of galaxies and stars, has continued since the Big Bang