Gregory Paciga

I am interested in the development of materials for use in the classroom, in particular making effective visual presentations that serve as an aid for an interactive tutorial rather than a crutch for a dry lecture. I have worked on projects to add content to our department's planetarium such as newly discovered exoplanet systems, Hubble imagery, and 3D models. I have also been interested in studying which pedagogical techniques make the best use of the teaching tools we have.

For AST 101, I wrote a python script which may or may not be useful to make movies of orbital resonances.

A summary of my teaching experience is as follows:

• Summer and Fall 2012 — Special Research Project for AST 101 and 201
  Designed and implemented a research program to test which methods of instruction produced the greatest benefit to undergraduate students in tutorials.
• Winter 2012 and Winter 2013 — AST 251
  Essay and exam marker; responsible for providing advice and feedback to students composing scientific research essays.
• Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 — AST 101 and 201
  Designing planetarium shows and adding content to the astronomy department's planetarium by creating custom UniView modules.
• Summer 2011 — AST 398
  Field research team coordinator for five students stationed at the GMRT observatory in India.
• Fall 2010 and Winter 2011 — AST 101 and 201
  Head TA, responsible for creating lesson plans and coordinating other TAs; tutorial leader for two sections of 45 students each; planetarium presenter.
• Fall 2009 and Winter 2010 — AST 101 and 201
  Tutorial leader for three sections of about 50 students each.
• Winter 2009 — AST 251
  Essay and exam marker.
• Fall 2008 — AST 101
  Exam marker and online quiz administrator.