Tools of the Astronomer, An Interactive Science Education Exhibit

洛厄尔天文台的天文学家将与教育工作者、博物馆专家和天文馆专业人员合作，设计和实施一系列独特的互动科学教育展览，名为“天文学家的工具”。展览将利用人们对天文学的广泛兴趣，说明研究过程，展示基本天文仪器的理论和功能，并鼓励参观者发现用这些仪器进行的测量如何揭示天体的特性。由洛厄尔工作人员开发的展览概念将由国家展览咨询委员会（NEAB）进行评估。然后将修改原来的概念，以反映审计委员会的建议，并将制作样品展品。这些原型将被广泛测试其耐久性和实现教育目标的有效性。来自亚利桑那州的学生和教师（包括来自附近纳瓦霍和霍皮印第安保留地的学生和教师）以及普通公众将参加测试。NEAB将审查完成的原型和测试结果，并在选择专业展品制造商制作最终展品之前，建议任何进一步的修改或测试。已完成的展品将在定于1994年春季在洛厄尔天文台开放的一个新的教育设施内安装和进一步评价。在那里，每年参观洛厄尔天文台的成千上万的人都会体验到这些展品。这些参观者中有很大一部分是学生，他们将参加围绕展品设计的教学项目。这些展品最终也将用于教师讲习班。为了达到最大的效果，本项目开发的所有软件、展览设计、教师指南和其他材料将销售给学校、科学中心、天文馆、天文台和其他教育实体，但需支付复制费用。

Lowell Observatory astronomers will collaborate with educators, museum specialists, and planetarium professional to design and implement a unique series of interactive science education exhibits entitled Tools of the Astronomer. The exhibits will capitalize on widespread interest in astronomy to illustrate the research process, demonstrate the theory and function of basic astronomical instruments, and encourage visitors to discover how measurements made with these instruments reveal the properties of celestial objects. Exhibit concepts developed by the Lowell staff will be evaluated by a National Exhibit Advisory Board (NEAB). The original concepts will then be modified to reflect the Board's recommendations, and prototype exhibits will be built. The prototypes will be extensively tested for durability and effectiveness in achieving the educational goals. Students and teachers from Arizona (including those from nearby Navajo and Hopi Indian Reservations), plus members of the general public, will participate in the testing. The NEAB will then review the completed prototypes and test results, and recommend any further modification or testing needed prior to selection of a professional exhibit fabricator to build the final exhibits. The completed exhibits will be installed and further evaluated in a new educational facility to be opened at Lowell Observatory in spring of 1994. There, the exhibits will be experienced by tens of thousands of people who visit Lowell Observatory each year. A significant fraction of these visitors will be school children who will participate in instructional programs designed around the exhibits. The exhibits also will ultimately be used in teacher workshops. To achieve maximum impact, all software, exhibit designs, teacher's guides, and other material developed in this project will be marketed to schools, science centers, planetaria, observatories, and other educational entities at the cost of reproduction.