Using Visual Assessments and Tutorials to Teach Solar System Concepts in Introductory Astronomy

Abstract

"Visual assessments and tutorials are instruments that rely on student construction and/or examination of pictures and/or diagrams rather than multiple choice and/or short answer questions. Being a very visual subject, astronomy lends itself to assessments and tutorials of this type. What follows is a report on the results of the use of visual assessments and tutorials for instruction on two specific solar system topics in introductory astronomy: the orbits of comets and extrasolar planets."