Project CLEA in the 21st Century

CLEA项目（当代天文学实验室练习）正在利用其为天文学实验室开发软件的经验做两件事：（1）完成VIREO的开发，虚拟教育天文台，一个模拟的多波长天文台，具有各种仪器和分析工具。VIREO涉及软件和学生练习册的制作以及天文学数据库的调整，以满足天文学课程的教学要求。CLEA正在为VIREO编写一本书长的用户手册，以便它能够成为天文学教育界开展天文学活动的环境。(2)利用VIREO开发几个新的天文学练习，在入门级和高级本科水平，包括强调观测策略和天体物理学当前问题的练习，如寻找高Z类星体，发现太阳系外行星和恒星形成区域的多波长成像。 CLEA正在与其他机构的研究人员建立联系，就像它在最近发布的太阳旋转练习中与GONG项目所做的那样。 CLEA的材料可在CLEA的专门网站上查阅，并根据要求以光盘和DVD的形式分发。 CLEA正在全国和地区教师会议上大力宣传其材料。2006年6月将在葛底斯堡学院校园为大学教师举办一个天文研究技术暑期培训讲习班。 对这些教材的课程影响和教学效果的评价是通过向教员发出在线问卷、对学生进行事前和事后测验以及由一名外部评价员进行实地访问来进行的。 该项目的智力价值在于其与当代天文学发现有关的天文学实验室的发展。 更广泛的影响是对大量天文学学生的影响，几乎所有非理科学生，在各种机构，谁使用的材料。

Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Exercises in Astronomy) is building on its experience developing software for astronomy labs to do two things: (1) Complete development of VIREO, the Virtual Educational Observatory, a simulated multiwavelength observatory with a variety of instrumentation and analysis tools. VIREO involves the creation of software and student workbooks and the adaptation of astronomical databases to meet the pedagogical requirements of astronomy classes. CLEA is producing a book-length user's manual for VIREO, so that it can serve as an environment for the development of astronomy exercises by the community of astronomy educators. (2) Develop several new astronomy exercises utilizing VIREO, at both the introductory and advanced undergraduate level, including exercises that emphasize observing strategies and current problems in astrophysics such as the search for high-z QSOs, discovering extrasolar planets, and multi-wavelength imaging of star-forming regions. CLEA is building on its associations with researchers at other institutions as it did in its recently released Solar Rotation exercise with the GONG project. CLEA materials are available on the dedicated CLEA website, and are also being distributed by CD-ROM and DVD upon request. CLEA is promulgating its materials vigorously at national and regional teachers' meetings. A summer training workshop on astronomical research techniques for college teachers will be held on the Gettysburg College campus in June, 2006. Evaluation of the curricular impact and pedagogical effectiveness of these materials is being conducted through on-line questionnaires to faculty, pre- and post- tests to students, and site visits by an external evaluator. The intellectual merit of the project lies in its development of astronomy labs that are connected to contemporary astronomical discoveries. The broader impact is on the large number of astronomy students, almost all non-science students, at all kinds of institutions, who use the materials.