27/02/2025
Dual education in astronomy: new directions in practical training
Since 2019, Gulziya Yesimguzhiyeva, Head of the Methodological Department of the Aktobe Regional Planetarium, has been teaching students of the "Physics" educational program the intricacies of astronomy as a practicing specialist.
"Since 2020, a branch of the Zhubanov University Physics Department has been operating at the regional planetarium. Under this project, astronomy is taught to students through a dual education system. This approach allows students to simultaneously master both theory and practice. In addition to university lectures, students deepen their knowledge by conducting scientific experiments and research at the planetarium and working with astronomical instruments.
This integrated teaching method plays a crucial role in popularizing astronomy and preparing future specialists," says Gulziya Yesimguzhiyeva.
During practical astronomy classes at the planetarium, students learn the proper use of telescopes, identification of celestial bodies, understanding of astronomical coordinate systems, mastering astronomical time, comprehending cosmic scales, and correlating geographic location with the sky.
"While studying astronomical phenomena, students gain theoretical and practical knowledge about the phases of the Moon, the movement of the Sun, eclipses, and the passage of comets. They also develop skills in determining object positions in equatorial and azimuthal coordinate systems. Additionally, students explore the structure of the Universe, its expansion, dark matter and energy, and study the life cycles of stars. They investigate the temporal relationships between the Sun and the Moon and develop time calculation skills," emphasized the specialist.