Preservice Teacher Deep Learning Opportunities during the 2023 and 2024 Solar Eclipses
Abstract: This panel discussion will introduce unique preservice teacher education teaching and learning opportunities made possible by the October 2023 and April 2024 solar eclipses that will pass through many regions of the USA. Specifically, on October 14, 2023, an annular eclipse will have its center line transit cross 13 states from Oregon to New Mexico and Texas (National Eclipse, 2022a). On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will enter Texas from the south, have its path of totality transit from San Antonio to Austin, Ft. Worth and Dallas, and exit Texas in the neighborhood of Texarkana en route to depart the continental US in Maine (National Eclipse, 2022b). The paths of greatest intensity (“totality”) for each eclipse are shown in Figure 1. Human-observable changes can be viewed from most points in the continental USA.