NSW Year 11 and 12 students are required to complete a Depth Study involving
fifteen hours of proven investigative study that allows the further development of one or more concepts found in the senior science curriculum. In astronomy, students must demonstrate a deep understanding of the nature of light and spectroscopy (Modules 7 and 8) and achieve certain outcomes for the final assessment. Part of the study must include contact with professionals in their workplace environment.
ASTRO 3D is well placed to run a Depth Study for NSW year 12 students. We have run both face-to-face and virtual programs annually 2019-2023 and are planning a face-to-face Depth Study at Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) in May 2024.
The program includes presentations from ASTRO 3D researchers, inquiry-based activities to develop understanding, tours of the SSO telescopes, solar observation, and evening stargazing. It is intended that the program continues to be offered annually at SSO.
The Siding Spring Observatory program goes for 2 days.
Our students were so impressed and engaged through the two very full days and night of quality teaching and learning experiences. You have helped open their eyes to possible career paths, as well as increase their knowledge of astronomy, astrophysics and engineering.
Virtual Depth Study 2020
In June 2020, ASTRO 3D delivered an online Depth Study. Over a day, students listened to presentations from four astronomers covering topics on the nature of light, nucleosynthesis in stars, oxygen in the Universe, and spinning galaxies.
To complement the five hours of presentations, instructional videos of the practical activities were provided. These include building a cardboard spectroscope and how to take photos of spectra with a smartphone and calculating Hubble’s Constant. Worksheets on constructing a Hertzsprung-Russell chart were provided. Students could complete these activities in their own time to add more hours to the compulsory fifteen, to complete a Depth Study.
These presentations were recorded and along with the instructional videos are available on the ASTRO 3D YouTube channel.
We had a great day. Kids were very keen and fascinated. They absorbed it all. Again, the presentations were great.
