(Out)reaching for the Stars: an Evidence-Based Syllabus for Training Astronomy Communicators

This syllabus aims to train upper-division undergraduate and early-career graduate students to be effective astronomy communicators. Trainees focus on: 1) astronomy concepts up to a necessary baseline of knowledge, 2) night-sky orientation and astronomical equipment usage, and 3) creating and delivering engaging outreach presentations. The syllabus is modular: it revolves around standalone learning goals that emphasize practically engaging with the material and learning from peers. It is set up in a flexible cadence of learning, observing, and presenting that emphasizes integrated practice paired with goal-oriented feedback from peers, with the goal of building lasting astronomy communication skills. The methods in the syllabus are based on current principles from the STEM teaching literature, e.g. Lovett et al.'s How learning works (2023) and Felder and Brent's Teaching and learning STEM (2024). The syllabus is the author's final project from the course CTL/ENGR312: Science and Engineering Course Design, taken in Winter 2026.