Project CLEA in the 21st Century

项目CLEA（当代天文学实验室练习）基于其为天文学实验室开发软件的经验，主要做两件事：(1)完成虚拟教育天文台（VIREO）的开发，这是一个具有各种仪器和分析工具的模拟多波长天文台。VIREO包括软件和学生练习册的创建，以及天文数据库的改编，以满足天文学课程的教学要求。CLEA正在为VIREO编写一本书长度的用户手册，以便它可以作为天文学教育者社区开发天文学练习的环境。(2)利用VIREO开发一些新的天文学练习，包括初级和高级本科水平的练习，包括强调观测策略和天体物理学中的当前问题，如寻找高z qso，发现系外行星，以及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，就像它最近与GONG项目一起发布的太阳旋转练习一样。CLEA的资料可在CLEA的专门网站上查阅，也可应要求以CD-ROM和DVD的形式分发。该中心正在国家和区域教师会议上大力宣传其材料。2006年6月，葛底斯堡学院将为大学教师举办一个天文研究技术的暑期培训讲习班。对这些材料的课程影响和教学效果的评价是通过对教员进行在线问卷调查、对学生进行事前和事后测试以及由外部评价人员进行实地考察来进行的。这个项目的智力价值在于它发展了与当代天文学发现有关的天文学实验室。更广泛的影响是对大量天文学学生的影响，几乎所有的非理科生，在各种机构，他们使用这些材料。

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.