Science and Technology through Radio Astronomy Experimentation for Community Colleges

天文学（11）该项目正在为社区大学的教师和学生开发能够通过射电天文学结合科学和技术经验的工具和材料。社区学院是帮助实现国家STEM教育目标的重要资源，麻省理工学院干草堆天文台正在与马萨诸塞州米德尔塞克斯社区学院和田纳西州罗安州立社区学院的教师和学生合作，开发和测试这些材料，为更广泛的传播做准备。智力优势：该项目涉及开发一个非常小的射电望远镜系统，向学生介绍射电科学技术和天文观测。VSRT中的所有组件都可以通过无线电设备插座购买，并且可以根据正在开发的说明轻松组装。VSRT使用0.5米卫星电视天线，工作频率为12.5 GHz。它可以很容易地指向太阳来观察其发射的无线电通量，并且可以与第二个类似的天线一起使用，用于更高角分辨率的无线电干涉测量实验，使用凌日或指向太阳的观测。双天线系统的总费用估计不到500美元。通过VSRT的组装和操作，学生有机会学习无线电波测量的技术方面，并进行天文测量和解释。无线电发射、无线电波传播、干涉测量、角分辨率和太阳爆发等物理概念都是教育项目的例子。天文台正在与附近的米德尔塞克斯社区学院合作，开发具有更高挑战性的教育材料，以配合仪器的使用。VSRT的beta测试正在与罗恩州立社区学院的教职员工和学生一起进行，以验证该系统向更大的社区学院观众传播的可行性。相关的社区学院教师和学生正在评估VSRT作为一种教育科技工具的有效性及其在实现既定目标方面的成功。更广泛的影响：VSRT仪器成本低，易于携带，并且不需要很大的实验室空间。它利用普遍可用的设备，它结合了技术和科学。因此，志愿志愿调查也可以被高中教师和学生使用，并将成为公共宣传的有用工具。无线电波普遍存在于我们日常生活中经常使用的许多小工具中，例如手机、卫星电视和无线网络，VSRT可以帮助解释与这些设备的操作相关的原理。干草堆天文台已经成功地开发了其他用于本科教育的工具和材料，使用2米和37米射电望远镜。虽然这些系统继续成功地用于高级本科生，但它们超出了许多社区学院和其他小型学院的能力。目前的项目是先前工作的产物。

Astronomy (11) This project is developing tools and materials that can combine science and technology experiences through radio astronomy for faculty and students at community colleges. Community colleges represent an important resource that can help fulfill national STEM education goals, and MIT Haystack Observatory is working with faculty and students at Middlesex Community College (Massachusetts) and at Roane State Community College (Tennessee) to develop and test the materials in preparation for wider dissemination.Intellectual Merit: The project involves development of a very small radio telescope (VSRT) system to introduce students to radio science technology and astronomical observations. All components in the VSRT are commercially available through radio equipment outlets and can be easily assembled according to instructions being developed. The VSRT uses a 0.5 meter satellite TV antenna and operates at 12.5 GHz. It can be easily pointed at the Sun to observe its emitted radio flux and can be used with a second similar antenna for higher angular resolution radio interferometry experiments using transit or pointed observations of the Sun. Total cost of a dual-antenna system is estimated to be less than $500. The VSRT provides an opportunity for students to learn the technical aspects of radio wave measurements through assembly and operation of the VSRT, and to make astronomical measurements and interpret them. The physical concepts of radio emission, radio wave propagation, interferometry, angular resolution, and solar bursts are examples of the educational projects. The observatory is working with nearby Middlesex Community College to develop educational materials at increasing levels of challenge to accompany the instrumentation, Beta-testing of the VSRT is being carried out with Roane State Community College faculty and students to verify the feasibility of the system to be disseminated to a larger-community college audience. The associated community-college faculty and students are evaluating the effectiveness of the VSRT as an educational science and technology tool and its success in meeting the established goals.Broader Impact: The VSRT instrumentation is low cost, easily portable, and does not require large laboratory space. It utilizes commonly available equipment, and it combines both technology and science. The VSRT therefore can also be used by high school teachers and students and will be a useful instrument for public outreach. Radio waves are prevalent in the many gadgets that we commonly use in daily life such as cell phones, satellite TV, and wireless networking, and the VSRT can help explain the principles associated with the operation of these devices. Haystack Observatory has successfully developed other tools and materials for undergraduate education using 2-m and 37-m radio telescopes. While these systems continue to be successfully used for advanced undergraduates, they are beyond the means of many community colleges and other small colleges. The current project is an outgrowth of the prior work.