A Student-Centered Astronomical Research Community of Practice

Abstract

For over a decade, students from Cuesta College and number of high schools have engaged in astronomical
research during one-term seminars. A community of practice—consisting of students, educators, and
astronomers—has formed that is centered on supporting the students’ astronomical research. The seminar has
recently adopted distance education technology and automated telescopes in a hybrid form of on-line and in person collaborations between students, educators, and astronomers. This hybridization is not only resulting in
new areas of growth and opportunity, but has created a number of challenges. For example, as more schools
joined this seminar, standardized teaching materials such as a textbook and self-paced, online learning units had
to be developed. Automated telescopes devoted to expanding student research opportunities within this
community of practice are being brought on line by Concordia University and the Boyce Research Initiatives and Educational Foundation. The Institute for Student Astronomical Research supports this growing community in
many ways including maintaining a website and editing books of student papers published through the Collins
Foundation Press.