I have experience teaching at the college
undergraduate level. I was recently (2011) an instructor at Loyola
University teaching an introductory astronomy course: PH 120-01. For
this course, I employed traditional lectures, in-class laboratory
tutorials, and interactive lectures that use clickers. The material
covered a broad scope of astronomy, from Earth, to the Solar System,
galaxies, cosmology, and the search for life. Understanding how
science works and developing skills in critical thinking and
skepticism were also covered.
I also have experience as a TA in Astronomy 101 at the
University of Washington, as a TA in Astronomy 110 at New Mexico State
University, as a TA for Astronomy 508 (Astronomy for Educators) at New
Mexico State University, and as a TA for Astronomy 308 (Into the Final
Frontier) at New Mexico State University. Astronomy 101 (UW) and
Astronomy 110 (NMSU) are introductory level courses that teach the
basic concepts of astronomy from the solar system to cosmology. Both
101 and 110 have lab components that help students engage in the
practice of science within small groups. Astronomy 508 is a graduate
distance-education course for teachers. Astronomy 308 presents the
history of human spaceflight from the pioneers Oberth, Tsiolkovsky,
and Goddard to present day cooperative and national missions.