Rachel Freed

Edith Cowan University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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About

Rachel Freed is a leading researcher in astronomy education, specializing in the measurement and enhancement of student self-efficacy in introductory astronomy courses. Her major contributions center on developing and validating robust psychometric instruments that quantify how students perceive their own ability to understand astronomical concepts and operate professional-grade robotic telescopes. Freed’s seminal 2022 paper, which has garnered 11 citations, introduced a novel two-factor astronomy self-efficacy scale, distinguishing between content mastery and practical instrumentation skills. She further solidified this work with a 2023 confirmatory factor analysis, drawing on an impressive dataset of over 15,000 students from 22 institutions across the United States and Canada. This large-scale validation not only demonstrates the reliability of her scales but also provides the astronomy education community with essential tools for assessing pedagogical interventions. By bridging the gap between theoretical learning and hands-on telescope use, Freed’s research empowers educators to design more effective curricula, making her a pivotal figure in evidence-based astronomy teaching.