Swinburne Astronomy Online

[Stu Ward]

Anyone completed a course with SAO ?
I'm interested in taking a short course, but would like to get a review of it if anyone has already completed

Thanks

Stu

[cybereye]

Stu,

Not sure about Swinburne but I did a Certficate in Astronomy via distance education from the University of Central Lancashire. Their website is www.studyastronomy.com. It was a great course, I learnt quite a bit and I would thoroughly recommend it.

Cheers,
Mario

[renormalised]

Ask Trevor (Quark). He did a certificate/diploma course through them awhile back. He'll be able to tell you all about it:)

James Cook Uni also offer various courses online as well....from certificate courses right up to PhD level degrees:):)

I not long ago finished my Masters degree:)

Graduated on 16th April.

[mswhin63]

I can see there are 2 styles of courses, Short Courses for interested Astronomers, and the others courses split into 3 categories.

Short courses I think are open to anyone, while the others are similar to full time courses. I am just finishing the Astronomy 101 and Planetary Science 101 courses at Curtin University in WA which are similar to SAO Graduate Certificate of Science courses.

Is this what you are interested in or the Short courses?

[Stu Ward]

I was looking at the short course as I have no related qualifications that would qualify for other courses

Stu

[renormalised]

Go to the website and see what you can do, then apply:):)

[mswhin63]

I noticed some demo information available but not sure if it is for Short courses or Under/Graduate courses.

I think the short courses look good, and was considering it last year but decided to go for full time studies instead. The advantage of in house education is assistance with others in the class both during and after.

I am not sure I would do this for Full time courses but short courses should be fine.

[Bodie]

I've been pondering one of the Swinburne offerings too! Would

I'm leaning toward the Grad Dip but I am uncertain as to the entry requirements. Any know what they mean by "recognised tertiary qualification"? Something from the sciences? Or maths? Heck, even economics? :P

Failing that, I've been also looking at the Monash Grad Dip of Science that also offers a major in Astronomy. But enrolment will only be for 2012 :-(. The beauty of the Monash course is that, I am certain, it is even open to someone like me with a crappy commerce degree (albeit with Honours)!

@mswhin63
How are you finding the course? Enjoyable?

[renormalised]

Most of these courses usually require you to have some training in a science and/or with some maths component. Or another degree with an appropriate amount of maths of the right type (e.g. engineering, B.A. in physical geography...remote sensing/GIS courses, climatology/meteorology, BEd with science/maths concentration). However, if you can prove that you can handle the requirements and you have a degree, you might get in. No harm in trying:)

If you wanted to do a certificate course and then work your way in by doing that, I would imagine you could progress further along.

[mswhin63]

I am lucky to be studying a Curtin Uni but mainly getting my math, basic physics and Chem up to scratch before entering properly.

Astronomy 101 very hard for my level over all only 70% but the last 3 assignments have been over 90%, Planetary Science 101 very easy over 90% in assessments so far.

For me it is a wonderful experience and not looking back. It has been 30 years since I studied like this, so it is a bit of a challenge.

[higginsdj]

I did the first 4 units at SAO. To be frank I felt like I was paying $1000 per unit for a piece of paper. There is no teaching done on these courses, but I never went to Uni so I don't know if that is normal! You buy your books, you follow the course outline (what to read) then do the tests, do a project and pass your unit then move onto the next one. I got HDs for very little effort.

Personally I feel the money is better spent on say a new scope or camera. If you want/need the bit of paper, then sure, spend your $15,000.

Cheers

[Sarge]

If you want to undertake an astronomy course but not concerned about getting the formal recognition, then Berkeley University USA offers this course online by Alex Filipenko - and its free. :thumbsup:

http://webcast.berkeley.edu/course_details.php?seriesid=1906978 460

I have just completed all the classes and have greatly increased my knowledge and interest in astronomy and cosmology. Although it is the 2007 course it is still very good and worth the time. Could even be used as a precursor to a full time course.

Rod
:D:D

[renormalised]

The courses are designed so you don't have to attend lectures, Dave. Despite not being in a regular class situation, you still get the same level of education as you would otherwise. They give people who don't have the time, or the opportunity to goto an uni the chance to do the same courses as their uni-bound colleagues are attending. Yes, they are self paced and such, but you get the same level of attention as would at a class in uni. More so in some areas, actually. There's no great shakes for attending a class at uni...it can be very stressful and not very productive, plus you don't have all the distractions which are present in an on campus class situation.

If you were getting HD's that easily in your subject, you should've considered doing the masters degree at least. If you were so inclined, you could go onto the PhD. That way, you would find it much easier to converse with the pro's on their own level, simply because you'd have the necessary academic qualifications to back yourself up.

[renormalised]

Alex is a pretty cool guy:):)

He's one of the adjunct professors at JCU.

[[1ponders]]

I'm with David on this. Boring as ..... well you know what. I chose my own topics for the assignments/projects (with oks from the lecturer) to try to keep it interesting. Bulletin boards are boring (no live interaction) and when you mix white belts (newbies) with black belts (done plenty of online education), it tend to turn those white belts right off when questions get slammed by the BBs.

I did two semesters, HD's pretty easy. The main reason I enrolled was for the imaging units. I walked away after 6 weeks of the first one. Extremely disappointed. James Cook Uni has an online one you might want to look at.

As a professional educator and teacher of 20 years experience as well, it never ceases to amaze me how universities can continue not to teach.

[Quark]

Hi Stu,

I completed a Grad Cert Sc with SAO back in 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. It is online and you get out of it what you are willing to put in. I found all of the unit instructors and project supervisors that I had were very supportive and helpful, offering as much feedback as I wanted. I looked at the minimum requirements for each unit and made sure that I well and truly exceeded them in all respects. I graduated with straight HD's and was latter presented with my faculties award for excellence. The Centre for Astrophysics & Super Computing which SAO is within, is a centre for research astronomy. Swinburne is the only Australian University with a time allocation on the Keck telescopes in Hawaii. I was very fortunate to travel to Hawaii with a Swinburne research team headed up by Professor Duncan Forbes, we had 2 nights observing on Keck II, Duncan was the unit supervisor for my final unit at Swinburne. I suppose you will get different opinions from different people on this matter but for me, it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

Regards
Trevor

[renormalised]

You've run into the wrong types in a course and they've hammered you down. It's a pity, but you do get effete snobs like that in some course and unis. JCU has a very good course and I would recommend it to anyone. It also depends on what you like...you did it for the imaging bits, but found something lacking. You should've said so to the lecturers. However, in so far as the rest of the courses were structured, you may not have had any interest in the other subjects...I don't know.

Some people find trying to do an online course difficult because they like that personal interaction....the distractions....of doing an on campus course. Others can work through both, whilst others are better off doing it on their own. Like I said to David, being on campus is not the great shakes some make it out to be. They probably spend most of their time in the clubs and doing "extracurricular" activities:):). That's why they like it.

[renormalised]

Exactly, Trevor. You get out what you're willing to put in. The SAO course has a very good reputation, not only in Australia, but overseas as well.

[Terry B]

I did a masters in astronomy at UWS before it stopped being offered. The lecturers almost all moved to JCU and they now offer the same courses at JCU. The prerequisite was any bachelor degree. It didn't have to be in a science. My year had people with medical degrees, science degrees, music degrees and others I can't remember. Just contact JCU and ask them.

[[1ponders]]

Oh I don't have a problem with BBs, I'll happily mix it with the best. I did notice it with other students though. I've been including online components in my courses, as well as helping to design online courses since the early 2000s and I'm well familiar with them in a variety of forms. From my experience, SU was well down towards the bottom of the pile when it came to effective teaching methods and encouraging involvement. Not to mention outdated information. I think we spent 4 weeks discussing film photography using hyped films. The kodak film they were discussing hadn't been commercially produced by kodak for something like 4 years by then and you couldn't get it for love nor money.

I sent a number of emails to lectures and course coordinators. Not a reply. I then sent a letter to the faculty head, explaining my experience in the education and online training industry. The email was, I believed balanced with positives and areas for improvement. Not a reply from anyone.Funnily enough though they are still quite happy to send me advertising asking if i want to complete the course.

Nah, it'll be a cold day in hell before I head back there or recommend an online course there.

[renormalised]

They've changed the structure of the course somewhat and the entry requirements, now. You need to have a science/maths background preferably.

[renormalised]

Sounds like they weren't interested in really engaging the students or listening to them. Institutions like that only make things hard for people wanting to do something for themselves. Best to avoid places like that. When you look at it, nearly all unis that offer online courses could do with a bit of help in the presentation of the courses and the way they allow for student-student and student-instructor interaction. That's where they need more people like yourself instructing them on how to approach teaching people online. What each uni should have is a unit that deals solely with online instruction and that liaises with the departments and faculties to tailor their online degrees to suit what each department/faculty has to teach their students. The problem with a lot of lecturers and such is they don't have enough background in education to really know how to deliver well structured courses for online instruction (or even on campus courses for that matter, in some cases).

What was the film....good ol' Tech Pan?? Remember when they used to advertise hypering kits in Astronomy Magazine?? :)

[Zaps]

On the Internet, everyone you encounter is the world's foremost expert on whatever it is you're discussing. They will reply to any question with an insightful observation lifted directly from Wikipedia and elsewhere. :lol:

[[1ponders]]

I don't have any issue with the teachers themselves. I believe I had good work/study relationships with them. It was the outdated training methodology that really irked me. Here we were in one of the most progressive and exciting areas of study and we got Powerpoint presentations on a disk and got to answer questions on a bulletin board.

I'm not sure if its true elsewhere or even if its still true in Qld, but when I did my my teacher training, University lectures/teachers/tutors weren't required to hold teaching qualifications. It really shows at times.

[renormalised]

I don't know of too many uni lecturers holding teaching qualifications at all, Paul. Even today....I know they weren't too worried about it years ago. They don't have to hold a degree in education but they should at least be required to do some training to a higher certificate or diploma level.

Just having powerpoint presentations and answering questions on a BB isn't enough. You should've at least got downloadable lecture notes and practical assignments every week...and a weekly study guide to help you through the work.

[[1ponders]]

Well I'll just quietly hope that someone saw my email and gave some consideration to the suggestions. Its such a shame because the topics covered each semester were pretty good in themselves. But the presentation and delivery was like chewing a cardboard box. Pretty indigestable. :)

[renormalised]

Warm milk and some sugar....you'll think you were eating weeties:):P

[Bodie]

Yeah, that is what the wording seems to indicated. Will contact them though just in case. I'll keep an eye on the Monash course though. I would probably end up doing the Maths major though rather than Astronomy.

Thanks for the pointers gents :)

[Nuclear Fission]

Hey guys

First post on the forum - just signed up.

I'm starting the Masters Degree in Astronomy at JCU next semester, really looking forward to it.

I was looking for a forum of some sort to do some reading and have a bit of a chat and came across this one. Looks to be what I was looking for. Found this thread after searcing "JCU Masters". I see some of you guys have done the course aswell and it's good to hear that you enjoyed it.

Anyway just wanted to say hi somewhere :)

Cheers

Phil

[renormalised]

Hi Phil, welcome to IIS:):)

Good to see you're going to do the course next semester. You'll like it:)

[Nuclear Fission]

Excellent to hear :)

I come from an Engineering background however have always had a love for cosmology and astronomy from a young age. I find it fascinating and a real shame that the majority of people know so little about it (and don't really care).

Glad to be in a place such as this forum where we can atleast share our interests and knowledge.

[renormalised]

I'm a geologist by profession and have the same fascination with all things astronomical from an early age as well.

The majority of people don't care about a lot of things...it's a wonder we've gotten as far as we have.

[Nuclear Fission]

Hahaha very true Carl.

[COSMOPARADISE]

Hi Phil...welcome to IIS.

Last year i did the SAOSC (Short Course at Swinburne) and i loved the experience and learned more in the 6 weeks than I thought possible. It was well paced for newbs and a great stepping stone to the Certificate Courses. I would do it again and I recomend it.

Im also an avid fan of Dr Alex Fillipenko and also downloaded his lectures from The Teaching Company. I absolutely love all 96 lectures

Good luck in your quest for knowledge.

[Nuclear Fission]

Cheers Nick :) I'll have to have a look into those lectures.

Out of curiosity, for some of you guys that have qualifications in Astronomy, is it something you can actually use to get a profession out of in Australia? Like is the Masters Degree something you can actually use? Or would you have to go the next step further and do your PhD?

I'm not doing it to get a career out of, just for personal interest, just curious about it that's all. Would be nice to know it's a qualification you could fall back on one day.

[renormalised]

Oh yes.....I have applications in to several of the community colleges in the US (California, precisely) to teach astronomy in the colleges. The colleges basically do the first couple of years of an university degree. You need a masters degree to be able to apply for a teaching position in the colleges. You can also grab observers positions at the various scopes around the world if you have a masters degree, Plus, if you want to work as a senior assistant at a planetarium or museum, you need a masters degree. A number of the colleges have very comprehensive astronomy courses.

Having a PhD is an extra bonus and will get you a bit further along, but it's not necessary to have unless you want to go straight into a research position at one of the major universities or research institutes. Then you go into a postdoc research position and keep working until you can get a position as a lecturer. If you're lucky, you get offered tenure.

[Nuclear Fission]

Oh great, that's good to know! Was a bit worried that it would be a bit of a useless qualification in the real world but if there is actual possibilites to go somewhere with it that is a definite bonus.

[Terry B]

I did the master degree at UWS before all the lecturers moved to JCU. Say hello to Miroslav if he is still there.
My background is in medicine and I have no need to use the astronomy qualification. It was useful though when I was employed to have medical students at my work. Because I have a master degree the uni would pay me as a senior lecturer even though the degree had nothing to do with medicine.

[andrew2008]

Just interested to know what people are hoping to get out of these courses, the GD and Masters in particular. Is it relevant to your career, looking to move into the area or just for interest??

I am about to start a distance science degree so have found this thread very interesting. Only astro unit available is an Intro course that I hope to do as an elective.

[Nuclear Fission]

Like I said with mine, it's mainly just for pure interest and knowledge development. However that's not to say that one day I might look into moving into the industry now that I know there are a few options that you can work towards.