“How Amateur Astronomers Learn:

High Self-Directed Life Long Learners"

“How Amateur Astronomers Learn:

High Self-Directed Life Long Learners"

By Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. By Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. By Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D. By Terrence R. Redding, Ph.D.

Love of LearningAmateur Astronomers

Amateur ScientistLife Long Learner

Alvin Toffler - FuturistAlvin Toffler - Futurist

1970 – Future Shock1970 – Future Shock Crippling business and nationsCrippling business and nations

1980 – Third Wave1980 – Third Wave Consume huge, diverse data sets and Consume huge, diverse data sets and

build new paradigms of understandingbuild new paradigms of understanding1991 – Power Shift1991 – Power Shift

Violence, Wealth, and knowledgeViolence, Wealth, and knowledge

1970 – Future Shock1970 – Future Shock Crippling business and nationsCrippling business and nations

1980 – Third Wave1980 – Third Wave Consume huge, diverse data sets and Consume huge, diverse data sets and

build new paradigms of understandingbuild new paradigms of understanding1991 – Power Shift1991 – Power Shift

Violence, Wealth, and knowledgeViolence, Wealth, and knowledge

Background ResearchBackground Research 1992 – Spark Gap to Space1992 – Spark Gap to Space 1993 – SAREX – 3,000 kids1993 – SAREX – 3,000 kids 1993 – Longitudinal Study – 81993 – Longitudinal Study – 8 thth grade grade 1994 - Longitudinal Study – 111994 - Longitudinal Study – 11 thth grade grade 1995 - Longitudinal Study – 5, 81995 - Longitudinal Study – 5, 8 ,, 11 grade 11 grade 1997 – Dissertation – Historical Events and the 1997 – Dissertation – Historical Events and the

development of high self-directed learning development of high self-directed learning readinessreadiness

2009 How Amateur Astronomers Learn: 2009 How Amateur Astronomers Learn: Engaging High Self-Directed Learners in Engaging High Self-Directed Learners in Astronomy Astronomy

1992 – Spark Gap to Space1992 – Spark Gap to Space 1993 – SAREX – 3,000 kids1993 – SAREX – 3,000 kids 1993 – Longitudinal Study – 81993 – Longitudinal Study – 8 thth grade grade 1994 - Longitudinal Study – 111994 - Longitudinal Study – 11 thth grade grade 1995 - Longitudinal Study – 5, 81995 - Longitudinal Study – 5, 8 ,, 11 grade 11 grade 1997 – Dissertation – Historical Events and the 1997 – Dissertation – Historical Events and the

development of high self-directed learning development of high self-directed learning readinessreadiness

2009 How Amateur Astronomers Learn: 2009 How Amateur Astronomers Learn: Engaging High Self-Directed Learners in Engaging High Self-Directed Learners in Astronomy Astronomy

The Knowledge ExplosionThe Knowledge Explosion

Normal CurveNormal Curve

Histogram and Normal CurveAmateur Radio Operators

Histogram and Normal CurveAmateur Radio Operators

So What?So What?

Knowledge explosionKnowledge explosionExtinction level eventsExtinction level eventsContribution of amateur astronomersContribution of amateur astronomersContribution of high self-directed Contribution of high self-directed

learnerslearnersWho will discover and learn how Who will discover and learn how

mankind can avoid extinction?mankind can avoid extinction?

Knowledge explosionKnowledge explosionExtinction level eventsExtinction level eventsContribution of amateur astronomersContribution of amateur astronomersContribution of high self-directed Contribution of high self-directed

learnerslearnersWho will discover and learn how Who will discover and learn how

mankind can avoid extinction?mankind can avoid extinction?

Why study astronomersWhy study astronomersThey are members of the oldest scienceThey are members of the oldest scienceAs a group they demonstrate high As a group they demonstrate high

persistent learning across a lifetimepersistent learning across a lifetimeAs amateurs, they love learning, are not As amateurs, they love learning, are not

paid for their learning effortspaid for their learning effortsAs a group they are recognized for their As a group they are recognized for their

ability to contribute new knowledge, ability to contribute new knowledge, skills, and discoveries in their field of skills, and discoveries in their field of studystudy

They are members of the oldest scienceThey are members of the oldest scienceAs a group they demonstrate high As a group they demonstrate high

persistent learning across a lifetimepersistent learning across a lifetimeAs amateurs, they love learning, are not As amateurs, they love learning, are not

paid for their learning effortspaid for their learning effortsAs a group they are recognized for their As a group they are recognized for their

ability to contribute new knowledge, ability to contribute new knowledge, skills, and discoveries in their field of skills, and discoveries in their field of studystudy

Extinction Level Eventsfrom the BBC 2008Extinction Level Eventsfrom the BBC 2008

Event Probability Frequency

Nuclear war Higher Never

Worldwide pestilence

Higher 1346 and 1918

Global Warming Higher Never

Ice Age Medium Cyclic, 12,000 yrs

Super volcanoes Medium Cyclic, 24 world wide, 70k to 770k yrs

Magnetic Pole Reversal

Medium Past due by 200k yrs

Bolide Impact Low Millions of yrs

Amateur Astronomers are Operationally Defined as High Self-Directed Learners

Amateur Astronomers are Operationally Defined as High Self-Directed Learners

Take responsibility for their learningTake responsibility for their learningPlan and execute learning activitiesPlan and execute learning activitiesSelf-allocate resourcesSelf-allocate resourcesEvaluate educational outcomes Evaluate educational outcomes Extend their own learning plansExtend their own learning plansHave a sense of service – to a greater Have a sense of service – to a greater

good.good.Love learningLove learning

Take responsibility for their learningTake responsibility for their learningPlan and execute learning activitiesPlan and execute learning activitiesSelf-allocate resourcesSelf-allocate resourcesEvaluate educational outcomes Evaluate educational outcomes Extend their own learning plansExtend their own learning plansHave a sense of service – to a greater Have a sense of service – to a greater

good.good.Love learningLove learning

Amateur Astronomers LearnAmateur Astronomers Learn

For the love of learningFor the love of learningTo structure their day, and their livesTo structure their day, and their livesWithin the framework of an organizing Within the framework of an organizing

circumstancecircumstance QuestionsQuestions PuzzlesPuzzles problemsproblems

For the love of learningFor the love of learningTo structure their day, and their livesTo structure their day, and their livesWithin the framework of an organizing Within the framework of an organizing

circumstancecircumstance QuestionsQuestions PuzzlesPuzzles problemsproblems

SDLRS ScoresSDLRS Scores

Ethnic GroupEthnic Group

Male/FemaleMale/Female

Highest Degree HeldHighest Degree Held

Study Pref – Kind of LearnerStudy Pref – Kind of Learner

Other Family Astronomers?Other Family Astronomers?

Where did you receive encouragement to become an astronomer?Where did you receive encouragement to become an astronomer?

How supportive is your family?How supportive is your family?

Where do you engage in your hobby most often?Where do you engage in your hobby most often?

Sir William GilbertSir William Gilbert

* Born 1544 prominent family* Royal Physician England* Gentleman Scientist* 18 years studying magnetism* First advance in 2,000 years* Stood without addition for 200 yrs•Published his findings near the end of his personal research•Scientific method•First modern textbook•Highly self-directed learner

Galileo GalilieGalileo Galilie* Born 1564 Italy* Father a musician home schooled* Defrocked priest* Failed to graduate* Prof Mathematics age 26* Appointed Padau – independent •Struggled for money - military•Saw telescope as way to gain financial success•Discoveries tempered by the Church•Scientific method•Highly self-directed

SummarySummary

33rdrd Wave Wave Race to extinctionRace to extinction Who are the scientistsWho are the scientists Why do we need themWhy do we need them First Moment of Lasting First Moment of Lasting

ExcitementExcitement Scientists are HSDLScientists are HSDL Motivation to learnMotivation to learn Contribution to knowledgeContribution to knowledge

33rdrd Wave Wave Race to extinctionRace to extinction Who are the scientistsWho are the scientists Why do we need themWhy do we need them First Moment of Lasting First Moment of Lasting

ExcitementExcitement Scientists are HSDLScientists are HSDL Motivation to learnMotivation to learn Contribution to knowledgeContribution to knowledge

Why study hobbyistsWhy study hobbyists Insight to HSDLInsight to HSDL Fast space of scienceFast space of science Everything you have Everything you have

just learned is out datedjust learned is out dated

Why study hobbyistsWhy study hobbyists Insight to HSDLInsight to HSDL Fast space of scienceFast space of science Everything you have Everything you have

just learned is out datedjust learned is out dated

Questions?Questions? Terry Redding Terry Redding terry@oltraining.com

Terry Redding Terry Redding terry@oltraining.com