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An overlooked feature in astronomy education is the need for students to learn to extrapolate three-dimensionality and the challenges that this may involve. Discerning critical features in the night sky that are embedded in dimensionality is a long-term learning process. Several articles have addressed the usefulness of three-dimensional (3D) simulations in astronomy education, but they have neither addressed what students discern nor the nature of that discernment. A Web-based questionnaire was designed using links to video clips drawn from a simulation video of travel through our galaxy and beyond. The questionnaire was completed by 137 participants from nine countries across a broad span of astronomy education. The descriptions provided by the participants were analyzed using hermeneutics in combination with a constant comparative approach to formulate six categories of discernment in relation to multidimensionality. These results are used to make the case that the ability to extrapolate three-dimensionality calls for the creation of meaningful motion parallax experiences.
<a href="https://www.compadre.org/astronomy/items/detail.cfm?ID=13750">Eriksson, Urban. "Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat?." Sci. Educ. 98, no. 3, (April 18, 2014): 412–442.</a>
U. Eriksson, Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat?, Sci. Educ. 98 (3), 412–442 (2014), <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13750&DocID=4172>.
Eriksson, U. (2014, April 18). Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat?. Sci. Educ., 98(3), 412–442. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13750&DocID=4172
Eriksson, Urban. "Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat?." Sci. Educ. 98, no. 3, (April 18, 2014): 412–442, https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13750&DocID=4172 (accessed 12 October 2026).
Eriksson, Urban. "Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat?." Sci. Educ. 98.3 (2014): 412–442. 12 Oct. 2026 <https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13750&DocID=4172>.
@article{
Author = "Urban Eriksson",
Title = {Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat?},
Journal = {Sci. Educ.},
Volume = {98},
Number = {3},
Pages = {412–442},
Month = {April},
Year = {2014}
}
%A Urban Eriksson %T Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat? %J Sci. Educ. %V 98 %N 3 %D April 18, 2014 %P 412–442 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13750&DocID=4172 %O application/pdf
%0 Journal Article %A Eriksson, Urban %D April 18, 2014 %T Who Needs 3D When the Universe Is Flat? %J Sci. Educ. %V 98 %N 3 %P 412–442 %8 April 18, 2014 %U https://www.compadre.org/Repository/document/ServeFile.cfm?ID=13750&DocID=4172
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