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Student comprehension of mathematics through astronomy
Descriptive
TitleInfo
Title
Student comprehension of mathematics through astronomy
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Search
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Robert
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Robert Search
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author
Name
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Weber
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Keith
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Keith Weber
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Advisory Committee
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chair
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Rutgers University
Role
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degree grantor
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Graduate School of Education
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school
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Text
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theses
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DateCreated
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2016
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2016-10
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2016
Place
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xx
Language
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eng
Abstract
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The purpose of this study is to examine how knowledge of astronomy can enhance college-level learning situations involving mathematics. The fundamental symbiosis between mathematics and astronomy was established early in the 17th century when Johannes Kepler deduced the 3 basic laws of planetary motion. This mutually harmonious relationship between these sciences has been reinforced repeatedly in history. In the early 20th century, for example, astronomer Arthur Eddington used photographic evidence from a 1919 solar eclipse to verify Einstein's mathematical theory of relativity. This study was conducted in 5 undergraduate mathematics classes over the course of 2 years. An introductory course in ordinary differential equations, taught in Spring Semester 2013, involved 4 students. A similar course in Spring Semester 2014 involved 6 students, a Summer Semester 2014 Calculus II course involved 2 students, and a Summer 2015 Astronomy course involved 8 students. The students were asked to use Kepler's astronomical evidence to deduce mathematical laws normally encountered on an undergraduate level. They were also asked to examine the elementary mathematical aspects involved in a theoretical trajectory to the planet Neptune. The summer astronomy class was asked to draw mathematical conclusions about large numbers from the recent discoveries concerning the dwarf planet Pluto. The evidence consists primarily of videotaped PowerPoint presentations conducted by the students in both differential equations classes, along with interviews and tests given in all the classes. All presentations were transcribed and examined to determine the effect of astronomy as a generator of student understanding of mathematics. An analysis of the data indicated two findings: definite student interest in a subject previously unknown to most of them and a desire to make the mathematical connection to celestial phenomena.
Subject
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Topic
Design of Learning Contexts
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Title
Rutgers University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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ETD_7470
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electronic resource
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application/pdf
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text/xml
Extent
1 online resource (xi, 271 p. : ill.)
Note
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Ed.D.
Note
(type = bibliography)
Includes bibliographical references
Subject
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Astronomy
Subject
(authority = ETD-LCSH)
Topic
Mathematics--Study and teaching
Note
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by Robert Search
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Title
Graduate School of Education Electronic Theses and Dissertations
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rucore10001500001
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NjNbRU
Identifier
(type = doi)
doi:10.7282/T3QZ2D8K
Genre
(authority = ExL-Esploro)
ETD doctoral
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Rights
RightsDeclaration
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
RightsHolder
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Name
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Search
GivenName
Robert
Role
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Permission or license
DateTime
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2016-08-08 20:44:43
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Name
Robert Search
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Affiliation
Rutgers University. Graduate School of Education
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License
Name
Author Agreement License
Detail
I hereby grant to the Rutgers University Libraries and to my school the non-exclusive right to archive, reproduce and distribute my thesis or dissertation, in whole or in part, and/or my abstract, in whole or in part, in and from an electronic format, subject to the release date subsequently stipulated in this submittal form and approved by my school. I represent and stipulate that the thesis or dissertation and its abstract are my original work, that they do not infringe or violate any rights of others, and that I make these grants as the sole owner of the rights to my thesis or dissertation and its abstract. I represent that I have obtained written permissions, when necessary, from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis or dissertation and will supply copies of such upon request by my school. I acknowledge that RU ETD and my school will not distribute my thesis or dissertation or its abstract if, in their reasonable judgment, they believe all such rights have not been secured. I acknowledge that I retain ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use all or part of this thesis or dissertation in future works, such as articles or books.
Copyright
Status
Copyright protected
Availability
Status
Open
Reason
Permission or license
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Technical
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ETD
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windows xp
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1.5
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2016-09-12T19:33:12
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2016-09-12T19:33:12
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Microsoft® Word 2013
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