Depth rather than breadth
Depth rather than breadth
- In the past, UR astronomy survey courses were often poorly received by the students, and thought by instructors to be relatively ineffective.
- Greater depth in fewer topics is widely thought to elicit deeper understanding of the scientific process.
- Greater depth in fewer topics may appear more attractive to potential students if the topics are well chosen.
- Results: though enrollment in Astronomy 102 was static for many years when it was a standard survey course (before 1994), it has grown by about 25% each time it has been offered as a course on relativity, black holes and the big bang (1994 and 1996).