HOW TO SUBMIT CONTRIBUTIONS

Authors are encouraged to submit work in any area of astronomy or space science education, including formal education (K-12, undergraduate, and graduate), informal education (in planetaria, museums, and other non-school settings), and public outreach. Please designate which section of the journal you are submitting to.

CRITERIA FOR JUDGING SUBMISSIONS

The criteria for judging submissions are:

1. Usefulness of ideas presented. Is the paper likely to improve the teaching and outreach work of others by:
   1. presenting new and effective techniques;
   2. providing insight into how people learn, either in the classroom or in informal settings;
   3. identifying resources that enhance the teaching and learning process;
   4. providing information/summaries/reviews of current scholarship in education;
   5. informing readers about trends or controversies in education?
2. Clarity and effectiveness of presentation. Is the paper written clearly and with an appropriate balance between brevity and completeness? Can the reader understand the purpose of the author in presenting the material, learn from what the author did, and apply it to his or her own work?
3. Scholarship. For those papers that represent research in astronomy education, were the appropriate procedures used, was the study carried out in a competent manner, and were the results of the study validated with appropriate and rigorous techniques? AER adheres to the professional and ethical standards set for all AAS journals and actively participates in efforts to prevent scholarly and professional plagiarism by using the CrossCheck system.

Submissions will be sent to an external referee, chosen for expertise in the subject being presented. The referees are selected by the editors.

Authors with questions about the suitability of a potential submission are encouraged to submit an outline of the proposed paper for preliminary assessment to aer@aas.org.

GENERAL SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Authors should email contributions to aer@aas.org. There is no page limit, but brevity is a virtue, especially for an electronic publication. Authors should provide references to their sources, including URLs.

We strongly encourage authors to credit and reference earlier work in the field (in the same way scientific research papers do). Three useful lists of previous papers in astronomy education can be found at:

• The ASP Web Site: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/resources/educ_bib.html
• The Searchable Annotated Bibliography of Education Research (SABER) Astronomy Web site: http://astronomy.uwp.edu/saber/
• The resources listed in “A Review of Astronomy Education Research”

Every submission must include a brief abstract (50-100 words) and a list of keywords (no fewer than two and no more than ten). At least one keyword must address the main arena for which the paper is intended (e.g., K-6, undergraduate non-science majors, planetaria or museums), and one must address the educational topic (e.g., Web-based learning, classroom demonstrations, children’s books).

We urge you to read over our list of keywords (see list below) carefully before submitting. Authors should feel free to provide links to their own or other Web sites for additional material such as diagnostic tests, teaching portfolios, Java applets, statistical validation studies, and so on. The goal is to be sufficiently selective that the journal remains lively and interesting, with a high density of useful information--a quality publication that astronomy educators look forward to reading.

Articles are posted online as soon as production is complete.

ARTICLE PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS

The following are guidelines for authors to use in preparing articles for submission to the Astronomy Education Review.

Quick links for help with:

• Text
• Word 2007
• Tables
• Footnotes
• Math and Math Type
• Figures
• Headings
• Citations
• Resources
• Reference List
  Click here for sample references
• Keywords and Searchable Phrases

Back to Quick Links

Text

Submit articles, including tables, in Microsoft Word format. When preparing a manuscript in Microsoft Word for submission, meticulous attention to the following, brief guidelines will help not only the publisher but also the author, since careful preparation is the most important single factor assuring error-free printed text that precisely reflects the author’s intent. If you do not have Word please email us a text file.

Back to Quick Links

Word 2007

Word 2007 and the new Word docx format should not be used. Docx files will currently cause problems for reviewers and complicate many existing preproduction and production routines.
If Word 2007 is unavoidable, back-save to the doc format. However, please note that you must use MathType or the Equation Editor 3.0 and not the more easily accessible, Microsoft Math Editor. When equations built with Microsoft’s Editor are back-saved, they are converted to low resolution graphics and will not be usable. (See Math and MathType notes below.)
To use MathType or the old Equation Editor 3.0, you will need to:

• Select Object on the Text section of the Insert tab
• Select MathType/Equation Editor in the drop-down menu

Back to Quick Links

Tables

Tables should be created with Word’s Insert Table function. If the table has already been made, please be sure it has been made with Word’s Table features. Tables created with spaces or tabs will create problems and may be improperly typeset. To assure your table is published as you wish, you must use Word’s table function. Number all tables and include a table title for each.

Back to Quick Links

Footnotes

To insert a footnote, use Word’s Insert Footnote command.

Back to Quick Links

Math and Math Type

Check and ensure that the following items are created or captured as MathType objects:

• Mathematical variables
• Mathematical expressions and any other expressions that contain an operator
• All display equations, regardless of what elements they contain
• Chemical expressions that contain superscripts or subscripts or that contain operators or fences
• Any in-line equations
  When in doubt, it is always best to err on the side of caution and capture all expressions and variables in MathType.
• All numbers in equations should be styled as Math.
• All roman text in equations, including roman functions, should be styled as Text.
• All bold text in equations should be styled as Vector/Matrix, not as a bold version of the font (for example, do not use Euclid Bold).
• All operators should be styled as Math, not Text.
• Do not use Other styles.
• Use MathType spacing (thin space, thick space) for all spaces between numbers and units of measure, around roman functions, etc. Spaces must be designated as thin space or thick space, not as “Text”.
• All alignment marks should be deleted.
• Use MathType Preference File: Times+Symbol 12.eqp.

Back to Quick Links

Figures

Number all figures and include a caption for each. Submit figures as separate EPS or PDF files, and name the files to match the call-out in text. Indicate in the text, using brackets, where the image should go. Notes to figures may be used and will be included in the figure caption. Example: [insert figure 1 here] ; figure caption: Figure 1 shows ...

Back to Quick Links

Headings

First-order headings should use all capitals.
Second-order headings should use initial capitals only.
Third-order headings should use initial capitals and be italicized.
Headings should be numbered unless the article is very short and/or has very few headings. The AER uses the following heading level number scheme:

Examples:

First-order:
1. INTRODUCTION TO ASSESSMENT MODELS

Second-order:
1.1. Using and Maintaining an Assessment Formula

Third-order:
1.1.1. Assessment Tips for Instructors

Back to Quick Links

Citations in Text

We are following the Astrophysical Journal (ApJ) style for citations in text--last name of author and year of publication with no comma before the year; there is a comma before the ampersand, however, for three authors. For citations with more than three authors, list the first author followed by et al. Page numbers may be included for books. (For articles, the number of the first page will be given in the reference list.) Samples are given below.

Examples of citations in text:

Redish & Steinberg (1999) point out the large normalized gain indices (and narrow spread, compared to traditional methods) for these two research-based curricula.

Cummings et al. (1999) evaluated Studio Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and compare it to Interactive Lecture Demonstrations and Cooperative Group Problem Solving at other institutions.

Examples of citations in parentheses:

Instructional concept maps depicting about 100 essential concepts play a key role in designing the conceptual astronomy format at UNM (Zeilik et al. 1997).

The overarching goal of the collaborative learning approach is to encourage active student participation in the learning process by creating an environment "that involves students in doing things and thinking about the things they are doing" (Bonwell & Eison 1991).

See http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/ApJ/instruct.html for additional information.

Back to Quick Links

Resources

This is an optional section for authors to list Web sites, institutions, contacts, or other information that may be of use to readers.

Back to Quick Links

Reference List

We are using The Chicago Manual of Style reference, but with a few minor deviations. AER reference style uses a comma after the volume number (instead of a colon) and only lists the first page (rather than a page range), We also omit parentheses around publisher information.

Following is an outline of our reference format, followed by sample references for each:

Article in journal

Format:

Author(s). Year, “Article Title,” Journal Name, volume number, number of first page.

Beaudrie, B., Slater, T. F., Stevenson, S., & Caditz, D. 1998, “Teaching Astronomy by Internet Jigsawing,” Leading and Learning with Technology, 26, 28.

Bisard, W., & Zeilik, M. 1998, “Conceptually Centered Astronomy with Actively Engaged Students,” Mercury, 27, 16.

Redish, E. F., & Steinberg, R. N. 1999, “Teaching Physics: Figuring Out What Works," Physics Today, 52, 24.

Seymour, E. 1992, “Undergraduate Problems with Teaching and Advising in SME Majors--Explaining Gender Differences in Attrition Rates,” Journal of College Science Teaching, 21, 284.

Slater, T., Adams, J. P., Brissenden, G., & Duncan, D. 2001, “What Topics are Taught in Introductory Astronomy Courses?” The Physics Teacher, 39, 52.

Slavin, R. E. 1991, “Synthesis of Research on Cooperative Learning,” Educational Leadership, 48, 71.

Book:

Format: Author(s). Year, Book Title, volume if applicable, city of publication: publisher.

Note: References for books do not include page numbers. If a specific page is cited, it should be given at the in-text citation. Volume number should be preceded by “vol.”

Meyers, C., & Jones, T. B. 1993, Promoting Active Learning: Strategies for the College Classroom, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Traub, Ross E. 1994, Reliability for the Social Sciences: Theory and Applications, Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage Publications.

Slavin, R. E. 1995, Cooperative Learning: Theory, Research, and Practice, 2nd Ed., Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

McLaughlin, J. B. 2001, Overcoming Tedium, vol. 3, Boston: Nontedious Publishers.

Article in edited book or collection:

Format: Author’s last name and first-name initials. Year, "Name of Article or Chapter Using Initial Caps," in Name of Book or Collection, ed. editor’s initials and last name followed by, place of publication: name of publisher, first page of article or chapter.

Note “in” before the book or collection title.

Kahle, J. B., & Meece, J. 1994, "Research on Gender Issues in the Classroom," in Handbook of Research on Science Teaching and Learning, ed. D. L. Gabel, New York: MacMillan Publishing, 542.

Fraknoi, A. 1996, "The State of Astronomy Education in the United States," in Astronomy Education: Current Developments, Future Coordination, ed. J. Percy, San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 89, 9.

Sadler, P. M. 1987, "Misconceptions in Astronomy," in Misconceptions and Educational Strategies in Science and Mathematics, ed. J. Novak, Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 422.

Zeilik, M. 1996, "Conceptual Astronomy: A Cognitive Approach for Teaching Science to Non-Majors," in Astronomy Education: Current Developments, Future Coordination, ed. J. Percy, San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 295.

McLaughlin, et al. 2002, "Taming the References Beast," in References in the New Millennium, ed. S. Adams & M. Conklin , Tucson: Professional Librarians Press, 54.

References checklist

• Use a period after each author’s initial and a space between initials.
• For articles, list number of first page.
• If the city of publication is not widely known, include the state or country. Examples of cities that do not require a state or country include New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston, London, Paris, Madrid, and so on. If the city of publication is Cambridge, indicate whether it is Cambridge, Massachusetts or Cambridge, UK.

Back to Quick Links

Keywords and Searchable Phrases

The AER is fully searchable in Scitation. Authors should select keywords from the following lists to enhance the searching capabilities.

1. Arena

Each article should have a keyword or keywords that indicates the arenas in which the article applies:

• K-6 (or elementary)
• 7-9 (or middle school)
• 10-12 (or high school)
• College non-majors
• College majors
• Graduate study
• Museum & planetarium
• Public outreach

2. Broad Topic in Astronomy

Each article should indicate what (if any) branches or topics in astronomy it concerns:

• General (applies to all topics)
• Radiation and spectra
• Instruments
• Solar system
• Extra-solar planets
• Stars and stellar evolution
• Interstellar matter
• Milky Way Galaxy
• Galaxies
• Cosmology
• Astrobiology/SETI
• History of Astronomy
• Physics in Astronomy (relativity, thermodynamics, etc., but not radiation)
• Interdisciplinary (astronomy and other fields)
• Other

3. Educational Topic

Each article should have keywords that indicate what aspects of education are covered. Below are some frequently used keywords from past conferences. If other keywords provide a better description of your article, please suggest them, and we will consider adding them to the list.

• Research into teaching/learning
• Hands-on activities
• Course goals
• Course curriculum
• Teaching approaches
• Demonstrations
• Cooperative group activities
• Laboratory exercises
• Web-based learning
• Multimedia
• Tests and quizzes
• Teacher training
• Meetings/conferences
• Jobs
• Funding opportunities
• Book reviews
• Software reviews
• Audio-visual material reviews
• Web-site reviews
• Planetarium education
• Observatory visitor centers
• Museum exhibits
• Scientific societies
• Newspapers and magazines
• Radio and television
• Family-based learning
• Amateur astronomers and education
• Science fiction in education
• Dealing with pseudoscience
• Children's books
• Popular books
• Textbooks
• Funding agencies
• Assessment

Back to Quick Links

HOW TO SUBMIT OPPORTUNITIES

This section of AER is for short announcements of interest to those working in astronomy and space science education and outreach. Include both an abstract (~50 words) and an announcement. Please keep the announcements short (one or two paragraphs) and include a web link and/or e-mail address for more information.

Send announcements to: aer@aas.org

In the message, please specify which section the announcement is to run in:

At the present time, such announcements are free of charge, although we may need to charge for some sections in the future.

In general, we will not accept announcements of for-profit commercial products (textbooks, software, observing guides, etc.) However, we will publish reviews of commercial products. If you have a product that you would like to be reviewed, please send two copies (one for the reviewer and one for the journal) to the address listed below. We will screen these products and if it appears that they would be valuable to a significant fraction of our readership, we will send them out for review. Products and other material submitted will not be returned, whether or not they are selected for review.

Back to Quick Links