Rebuilding the Astronomy Curriculum around Robotic Telescope Observations and Active Learning Exercises

这所大学正在修改天文学课程。这些变化是由最近的物理教育研究结果指导的，这些研究结果强调互动和动手学习策略，以便更好地服务于Creighton和另外两所当地大学(大都会社区学院和内布拉斯加大学奥马哈分校)、地区中学和大都市奥马哈社区的教育需求。这些变化是通过购买、安装和操作能够进行远程观测的机器人望远镜来实现的，该望远镜正在向当地和地区机构的学生和教职员工以及该地区的中学生和中学生提供。智力优势：利用这一设施，该项目正在将其他机构设计并成功使用的以观测为基础的练习纳入天文学入门课程。这些练习是为非理科、天文学入门的学生设计的，但也可以很容易地用于高中生和初中生。修订的其他部分包括在天文学入门课程中介绍物理和天文学教育研究战略，包括更多地使用教程和以问题/研究为基础的学习。一个单独的高级实验室部分正在为感兴趣的天文学入门学生和可能考虑攻读物理专业的大一新生提供，以及为理科专业学生开设的高级观测天文学课程。两人都在实施基于项目的学习，重点是先进的观测天文学技术和仪器，包括使用机器人望远镜的成像、光度测量和光谱分析。目前正在进行一项全面评价，以衡量学习成果的进展情况和实现项目目标的总体成功。更广泛的影响：该项目惠及约500名在克雷顿大学攻读天文学入门课程的学生，以及1000名在大都会社区学院和内布拉斯加大学奥马哈分校开设的课程的学生。此外，该项目还为奥马哈大都市区和内布拉斯加州的数千名中学生提供了基于项目的天文学学习机会。该项目在一个目前在天文学、教育和外联方面服务不足的地理区域有着广泛的影响。

The university is revising its Astronomy curriculum. The changes are guided by recent physics education research findings that emphasize interactive and hands-on learning strategies in order to better serve the educational needs of Creighton and two other local universities (Metropolitan Community College and the University of Nebraska at Omaha), area middle and secondary schools, and the greater metropolitan Omaha community. The changes are made possible by the purchase, installation, and operation of a robotic telescope capable of remote observations that is being made available to students and faculty at local and regional institutions as well as middle and secondary students in the region. Intellectual merit: Using this facility, the project is adapting observationally-based exercises that have been designed and used successfully at other institutions for use with remote telescopes into the introductory astronomy curriculum. The exercises are designed for non-science, introductory astronomy students but can readily be used with high school and mid-high students. Other components of the revision involve the introduction of physics and astronomy education research strategies in the introductory astronomy lecture, including increased use of tutorials and problem/research based learning. A separate advanced lab section is being offered for interested introductory astronomy students and freshmen who may be considering a physics major, as well as an upper division observational astronomy course for science majors. Both are implementing project-based learning with emphasis on advanced observational astronomy techniques and instrumentation, including imagery, photometry, and spectral analysis using the robotic telescope. A comprehensive evaluation is being undertaken to gauge progress in learning outcomes and overall success in achieving project goals. Broader Impact: The project benefits approximately 500 students who enroll in introductory astronomy at Creighton, and 1000 students who enroll in courses offered at Metropolitan Community College and the University of Nebraska at Omaha. In addition, the project provides project-based learning opportunities in astronomy for thousands of middle/secondary students in the Omaha metro region and state of Nebraska. The project has a broad reach in a geographical area that is currently underserved in astronomy education and outreach.