Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA
Students have a weekly online reading assignment (hosted by SurveyMonkey.com), where they answer questions based on reading their textbook, material covered in previous lectures, opinion questions, and/or asking (anonymous) questions or making (anonymous) comments. Full credit is given for completing the online reading assignment before next week's lecture, regardless if whether their answers are correct/incorrect. Selected results/questions/comments are addressed by the instructor at the start of the following lecture.
The following questions were asked on reading textbook chapters and previewing presentations on the evolution of medium-mass stars, massive stars, and on neutron stars and black holes.
Selected/edited responses are given below.
Describe something you found interesting from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally interesting for you.
"I thought that what happens to stars after they die was pretty interesting because out sun is a star."
"That once a star uses up all its hydrogen, it keeps trying to stay alive by resorting to harder and harder elements to fuse for energy. Kind of like it's almost alive."
"I found interesting that stars must 'eat' hydrogen to survive and it is the most 'nutritious' stuff for them to eat."
"The idea of a star sucking up the hydrogen of another star is interesting. I guess I just like big explosions, but I also wonder if it's possible that other things could occur than just explosions."
"That you can't see black holes. Dumb TV shows."
"I found what happens to stars after they 'die' most interesting because I always wondered if they exploded or what not. It was also interesting learning about the differences of each specific type of star after they die."
"I thought it was cool to read about how a sugar cube of a neutron star on Earth would weigh approximately the same as a mountain, that is freaking amazing and confusing at the same time. It just amazes me how the mass is so dense, it doesn't even seem possible."
Describe something you found confusing from the assigned textbook reading or presentation preview, and explain why this was personally confusing for you.
"I don't understand why a white dwarf would have enough gravity to suck hydrogen away from a star that is still going. I would have assumed that the star that is still fusing would have more mass and pull the dwarf towards it."
"I don't understand the purpose of a black hole and what goes in there, also are there many in our galaxy?"
"Black holes. They are pretty crazy. I'm confused about how scientists detect them and what is happening inside of a black hole. I think it is because it feels so unrealistic I am not able to grasp it."
A Hummer H2 and a SmartCar ForTwo can travel the same distance with a full tank of gas. Briefly explain how this is possible.
"The Hummer has a much larger gas tank than the SmartCar. This enables the Hummer to go the same distance although it eats up fuel at a much higher rate."
"I don't understand how that could be."
"I don't think this is possible, Hummers waste a lot of gas..."
"I would have never guessed about the Hummer/SmartCar thing. It makes sense though and I guess that's why I'm seeing more and more of those little Tonka™ cars zipping around."
These main-sequence stars will become which type of stellar remnant?
(Only correct responses shown.)
Massive main sequence star: (neutron star or black hole) [91%]
Medium-mass main-sequence star: white dwarf [82%]
Low-mass main-sequence star: (no stellar remnant observed yet) [55%]
These main-sequence stars could undergo which type of explosion?
(Only correct responses shown.)
Massive main sequence star: type II supernova [82%]
Medium-mass main-sequence star: (nova or type Ia supernova) [91%]
Low-mass main-sequence star: (no explosion possible) [41%]
If you were to leap into a black hole, your friends would typically watch you falling in for __________ before you entered the event horizon.
seconds. ** [2] hours. * [1] days. [0] a year. [0] many years. * [1] forever. *************** [15] (Unsure/guessing/lost/help!) *** [3]
The first rule of astronomy class is...
"...sit down, shut-up and let P-dog drop some knowledge on your ass."
"...be afraid. Be very afraid."
"...1. P-dog is the boss. 2. Follow rule number 1."
"...do not talk about astrology in astronomy class."
"...the professor's name is not 'Dr. Len.'"
"...come to class?"
"...abandon all hope."
"...you do not talk about astronomy class."
Ask the instructor an anonymous question, or make a comment. Selected questions/comments may be discussed in class.
"What is the first rule of astronomy class?"
"Why is your class so badass?" (It's not me, it's you. You make this class badass.)
"Your Halloween t-shirt was funny! Kitty Scissorhands!" (Really? Not Frisky Krueger?)
2 comments:
Hi Patrick. This looks like a good way to get information, motivate the reading, and have a little fun with the students! I'm wondering how you use the feedback you get here in developing the course material. Do you just address some confusions and questions at the start of the following lecture? Or do you take all the interests, confusions, and everything into account to update the course for future years?
I attempt to address the more urgent confusing points whether by going through a relevant example or writing up a last-minute mini-lecture, so much of what happens in class is improvised, dictated by students' muddiest points as assessed by these online reading assignments.
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