Previous | Session 92 | Next | Author Index | Block Schedule
T.A. Rector (U. of Alaska Anchorage), C. Pilachowski (Indiana
University), M.J. Young (M.J. Young & Assoc.) Research-Based
Science Education is a method of instruction that models the
processes of scientific inquiry and exploration used by
scientists to discover new knowledge. It is "research-based" in
the sense that students work together in self-guided,
cooperative groups on a real research project. In other words,
in order to learn science, students are given the opportunity to
actually do science. Here we present the results of a study of
undergraduate students that were given the opportunity to work
on a research project underway to search for novae in Local
Group galaxies. Students analyzed images obtained regularly from
the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope on Kitt Peak. Novae were found by
blinking these images. Aperture photometry was used to generate
light curves and measure decay rates. Students then explored
individually chosen questions, such as