Project CLEA: Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy

从1992年秋天开始，目前的研究人员一直在为入门天文学实验室开发一系列模块，这项拨款将继续进行两年多的项目。这些模块解决了天文学入门实验室现代化的迫切需要：尽管天文学是本科生中非常受欢迎的一门课程，而且对于许多学生来说，这是他们第一次也是唯一一次在大学里学习科学，但天文学入门实验室在做实验时遇到了困难，因为天文物体很模糊，许多现象的时间尺度很长，天气变化无常。目前，天文学教师所做的大多数天文学练习都依赖于对照片或罐装数据的分析，并举例说明越来越过时的技术。学生们理所当然地把这些活动看作是做工作。当前的项目，当代天文学实验室体验（CLEA），正在开发8个基于windows的练习，在ibm兼容的计算机上运行，为入门实验室提供基于模拟、数字图像和小型望远镜上CCD相机观测的真实观测体验。每个模块由软件、学生指南、教师手册和技术文档组成。Windows模块，以及5个基于mac的练习和2个在NSF支持之前引入的数字成像练习，已经被引入了葛底斯堡学院的课堂，并通过ftp和邮件广泛分发。CLEA软件目前被广泛使用。这个项目继续了两年的工作，开发了额外的8个模块，重写了软件和手册，以便练习可以在带彩色显示器的Macintosh计算机上使用。这包括模块的文档、分发和传播。新的练习提高了学生对天文学的理解，并为振兴全国各地的入门天文学实验室提供了手段和动力

9354514 Marschall This grant continues for two more years a project under which the current investigators have been developing a series of modules for the introductory astronomy lab since the Fall of 1992. The modules address a pressing need for modernization in introductory astronomy laboratories: Though astronomy is a very popular course for undergraduates, and for many their first and only college experience in science, laboratories in introductory astronomy have difficulty doing experiments because of the faintness of astronomical objects, the long time scale of many phenomena and the fickleness of weather. Most astronomy exercises currently available to astronomy instructors rely on analysis of photographs or canned data and exemplify techniques that are increasingly out-of-date. Students rightly regard many of these activities as make-work. The current project, Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy (CLEA), is developing 8 Windows-based exercises, running on IBM-compatible computers, that provide realistic observing experiences for introductory labs based around simulations, digital images, and, observations with CCD cameras on small telescopes. Each module consists of software, student guides, teachers' manuals, and technical documentation. The Windows modules, along with 5 Mac-based exercises and two digital imaging exercises introduced before NSF support, have been introduced into classes at Gettysburg College and distributed widely by ftp and by mail. CLEA software is currently in wide use. This project continues the work for another two years, developing an additional 8 modules and rewriting software and manuals so that the exercises can be used on Macintosh computers with color displays. This includes documentation, distribution, and dissemination of the modules. The new exercises improve students understanding of astronomy and provide the means and the impetus for revitalizing introductory astronomy laboratories around the country