Greetings! I am a Masters student in physics & astronomy at SFSU whose educational and career interests lie in astronomy education. Currently I am working on a thesis under the supervision of Dr. Adrienne Cool (SFSU astronomy), Dr. Kimberly Tanner (SFSU biology & science education), and Dr. Edward Prather (University of Arizona's Center for Astronomy Education). My project involves developing five introductory astronomy laboratories for undergraduate nonscience majors and assessing their ability to foster conceptual change. The laboratories utilize the research-based curricular design approach called the 5E Model and incorporate the use of a planetarium. The overarching learning objectives of the labs are that students will be able to 1) characterize the location and appearance of things in the night sky using compass direction, altitude, magnitude and angles between stars, and 2) predict the apparent motions of the Sun, Moon, and stars as seen from Earth. These abilities are important as they allow us to make sense of what we see in the sky on a daily basis.
One of my main heart-beats in learning how to communicate astronomy effectively is getting to care about others and reveal the nature of science in hopes to inspire continual questioning and discovery. Besides my life in academia, I love dancing (most styles), gymming, playing the piano when no one is listening, and getting out in nature.
Photo courtesy Eric Long, staff photographer, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum at the Mutual Concerns for Air & Space Museums conference in San Diego, April 2007. Here I am presenting a museum 'discovery station' that encourages public participation to uncover the real reasons for the seasons.
SFSU Links
About me
read an article on my planetarium shows given periodically at SFSU
Other Links
visit Reasons to Believe an organization of scientists and science enthusiasts who see science in harmony with the Bible
my church Dolores Park Church
Contact information
Michelle M. Krok
San Francisco State University
Physics & Astronomy Department
SEPAL: Science Education Partnership & Assessment Laboratory
1600 Holloway Ave
San Francisco, CA 94132
mkrok_at_sfsu.edu
background photo: courtesy of NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
website made by Michelle mkrok@sfsu.edu