Project CLEA: Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy

9354514马绍尔，这笔赠款又持续了两年，根据该项目，现任调查人员自1992年秋季以来一直在为入门天文学实验室开发一系列模块。这些模块解决了天文学入门实验室现代化的迫切需求：尽管天文学是一门非常受本科生欢迎的课程，对许多人来说是他们第一次也是唯一的大学科学经验，但由于天文物体的模糊、许多现象的长时间尺度和天气的反复无常，入门天文学实验室很难进行实验。目前天文学教员可以使用的大多数天文练习都依赖于对照片或存储数据的分析，并举例说明了日益过时的技术。学生们理所当然地认为这些活动中的许多都是临时工作。目前的项目“当代实验室天文学经验”正在开发8个基于Windows的练习，在IBM兼容的计算机上运行，为基于模拟、数字图像和使用小望远镜上的电荷耦合器件进行观测的介绍性实验室提供现实的观测体验。每个模块都包括软件、学生指南、教师手册和技术文档。Windows模块，以及在NSF支持之前引入的5个基于Mac的练习和两个数字成像练习，已被引入葛底斯堡学院的课堂，并通过ftp和邮件广泛分发。Clea软件目前正在广泛使用。这个项目又继续了两年的工作，开发了另外8个模块，并重写了软件和手册，以便这些练习可以在配备彩色显示器的Macintosh计算机上使用。这包括模块的文档、分发和分发。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to astronomy instructors rely on analysis of photographs or canned data and exemplify techniques that are increasingly out-of-date.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