ERIC Number: EJ1466617
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Mar
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0047-2395
EISSN: EISSN-1541-3810
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Streamlining Online Astronomy Education: Integrating ChatGPT and Stellarium Planetarium Software to Serve as a Virtual Teaching Assistant
Linghong Li1; Wayne F. Patton1
Journal of Educational Technology Systems, v53 n3 p205-218 2025
The evolving landscape of higher education demands integrating advanced technologies to foster engaging and inclusive learning environments. This paper examines the practical integration of Stellarium, a virtual planetarium software, and ChatGPT, an AI conversational agent, in an asynchronous online undergraduate astronomy course. Stellarium enables students to explore celestial phenomena in an interactive virtual setting, enhancing conceptual understanding. ChatGPT supports instructor oversight by facilitating interactive discussions, answering student queries, and providing personalized tutoring, thereby promoting active engagement. By showcasing the implementation process and its impact on student learning, this study demonstrates how merging innovative pedagogies with cutting-edge tools can enhance online astronomy education and offers insights for broader applications across disciplines.
Descriptors: Electronic Learning, Astronomy, Science Education, Artificial Intelligence, Synchronous Communication, Computer Software, Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Technology Integration, College Science, Undergraduate Study, Learning Management Systems
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Chemistry & Physics, SUNY Potsdam, Potsdam, NY 13676, USA