This is a poster presented at the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop on Astronomy for Education, organised by the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education (OAE, https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/7th-shaw-iau-workshop/). Title: Decoding the Cosmos: Exploring Epistemic Messaging in Astronomy Lessons Through Teacher Expertise Presenter:Christine Hirst Bernhardt (NOVA SySTEMic) This study explores how science teachers in the U.S. and Australia—two countries with comparable educational standards—interpret the epistemic messages of astronomy lessons. Through interviews and classroom observations, we examine how teachers identify and adapt epistemic messages within astronomy-based lessons and how they adapt messages towards student learning outcomes. Data will guide a framework for teacher-driven and informed development of high-quality instructional materials in astronomy. Findings will explicate how teachers perceive and reshape the implicit and explicit epistemic messaging of astronomy resources, and how those changes affect student uptake of scientific and astronomical ideas. Collaborators:Saeed Salimpour (Deakin University) About the 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop:The 7th Shaw-IAU Workshop took place 18 - 21 November 2025. The Shaw-IAU workshops focus on astronomy education for primary and secondary school students and teacher training both in universities and in service. This year's Education focus session on Teaching with authentic data and the Science focus is on Galaxies.More details can be found on: https://astro4edu.org/shaw-iau/Keep up to date with future Shaw-IAU Workshops and other opportunities at the IAU Office of Astronomy for Education by joining our mailing list https://astro4edu.org/mailing-list/ Follow the IAU OAE on Bluesky and Facebook under @astro4edu
Christine Hirst Bernhardt (Thu,) studied this question.