Light Inquiry Through Experiments: Project LITE

智力优势：该项目扩大了教育设备，软件和课程材料的开发，评估和传播，重点是光，光学，颜色和视觉感知的性质。该项目有两个核心战略：（1）通过向学生提供控制计算机屏幕光发射的软件，并通过开发可用于计算机探测光的材料和设备，使学生能够使用个人计算机作为实际的光和光学实验室;以及（2）为学生提供智力上令人兴奋和教学上合理的实验室练习，帮助引导他们以探究为基础的方式用自己的眼睛探索并以他们自己的速度研究关于光的最重要的思想。实验室的经验利用了计算机屏幕的光学特性，这些特性可以通过该项目正在开发的软件进行控制。学生可以操纵和探索这种光源与材料在一个廉价的光学套件和其他设备开发的项目。该项目正在开发计算机接口硬件，如基于USB的PC分光光度计和基于USB的光度计。它还在开发一个强大的基于JAVA的程序，称为光谱探测器（DAC）。目前，它为学生提供了检查黑体辐射，基尔霍夫定律，斯蒂芬-玻尔兹曼定律，发射和吸收线光谱以及多普勒频移任何光谱和检查H-R图中恒星光谱的方法。dac正在扩展，增加了将瑞利散射、星际红化、塞曼效应和各种其他物理效应和滤波器应用于光谱的能力，并且能够轻松地从许多光谱数据库和许多光谱仪导入光谱。dac还正在与国家虚拟天文台合并，以方便学生访问国家虚拟天文台关于大多数观测到的天文物体光谱的庞大数据库。dac的这种扩展有助于使学生能够进行原创性的科学研究以及更现实的实验室练习。更广泛的影响：沿着LITE项目材料的扩大开发和测试，通过在其他大学、社区学院和标准高中的天文学课程中实施LITE项目，所有LITE教育成果的全国影响正在扩大。在物理、化学和心理学课程以及职前教师的科学课程中，正在测试适当的LITE组成部分。还在远程教育、家庭学习和成人继续教育环境中测试学习、教育和技术教育材料。评价和评估学习成果，包括在全国传播关于光的量子方面的“光和光谱学概念清单”和关于光的几何和物理方面的新的光概念清单，与扩大软件、硬件和相关实验室练习的开发并行。通过出版物、教师培训讲习班、会议介绍、商业制造以及与包括OSA和ASP在内的国家科学组织的合作，在全国范围内进行传播。

Intellectual Merit: This project expands the development, evaluation and dissemination of educational devices, software and curriculum materials that focus on the nature of light, optics, color and visual perception. The project has two core strategies: (1) to empower students to use personal computers as actual light and optics experimental laboratories by providing them with software that controls the optical emission of computer screens and by developing materials and devices that can be used to probe light with computers; and (2) to provide students with intellectually exciting and pedagogically sound laboratory exercises that help guide them in an inquiry based manner to explore with their own eyes and at their own pace the most important ideas about light. The laboratory experiences take advantage of the optical properties of computer screens that can be controlled by software the project is developing. Students can manipulate and explore this light source with the materials in an inexpensive optics kit and other apparatus developed by the project. The project is developing computer-interfaced hardware such as a USB-based PC spectrophotometer and a USB-based photometer. It is also developing a powerful JAVA-based program called the Spectrum Explorer (SPEX). At present, it gives students the means to examine blackbody radiation, Kirchhoff's laws, the Stefan-Boltzmann Law, emission and absorption line spectra and to Doppler shift any spectrum and examine the spectra of stars in an H-R diagram. SPEX is being expanded by adding to it the ability to apply Rayleigh scattering, interstellar reddening, the Zeeman effect and various other physical effects and filters to spectra, and to be able to easily import spectra from numerous spectroscopic databases and from many spectrophotometers. SPEX is also being integrated with the National Virtual Observatory to facilitate student access to the enormous NVO database of the spectra of most observed astronomical objects. This expansion of SPEX helps empower students to do original scientific research as well as more realistic laboratory exercises. Broader Impacts: Along with the expanded development and testing of Project LITE materials, national impact of all of the LITE educational outcomes is being expanded by implementing them in astronomy classes at other universities, community colleges, and standards-based high schools. Appropriate LITE components are being tested in physics, chemistry and psychology courses, as well as in science courses for pre-service teachers. The LITE materials are also being tested in distance education, home-learning and adult continuing education environments. Evaluation and assessment of learning gains, including the national dissemination of the "Light and Spectroscopy Concept Inventory" about the quantum aspects of light and a new light concept inventory dealing with the geometrical and physical aspects of light, parallels the expanded development of software, hardware and associated laboratory exercises. National dissemination is occurring through publications, teacher-training workshops, meeting presentations, commercial manufacture, and collaborations with national science organizations including the OSA and ASP.