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| Paper: |
Advancing Astronomical Literacy via Student Writing Contests |
| Volume: |
539, ASP 2024: Astronomy Across the Spectrum |
| Page: |
172 |
| Authors: |
Waller, W. |
| Abstract: |
Scientific literacy encompasses the ability to read scientific literature and to effectively communicate scientific knowledge and reasoning via writing, speaking, and other means. This skill comprises a key goal of K-12 education, as borne out by educational standards worldwide (cf., The Next Generation Science Standards followed by U.S. schools). Advancing astronomical literacy provides a compelling gateway to advancing scientific literacy overall, as the subject of Astronomy is both interdisciplinary and very popular. In my presentation and this paper, I discuss the motivation and development of an astronomical writing contest for high-school students. Such a contest would engage students in active writing projects suitable to their grade levels. In my own science classes, I have obtained impressive results with the student writing that I assigned and mentored (see https://sites.google.com/site/sciencegazette/ap-physics and http://galacticinquirer.net/). For the competition I have co-piloted, writing genres can include research reports, essays, book reviews, speculative fiction, dramatic scripts, poems, and musical lyrics for optimal inclusion. Potential partners could include national and international astronomical societies, observatory consortiums, library organizations, telescope manufacturers, textbook publishers, and other supporters of astronomical inquiry. Progress on the pilot contest being hosted by The Galactic Inquirer is presented. |
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