Workshop W1

Project CLEA

Contemporary Laboratory
Experiences in Astronomy

"The Universe on a Desktop: Observational Astronomy Simulations in the Instructional Laboratory"

* P. Richard Cooper, Laurence A. Marschall, Glenn A. Snyder
* Workshop Leader

Department of Physics, Gettysburg College

Though the value of hands-on learning has long been recognized by educators, it is difficult to design laboratories in astronomy classes that present realistic astrophysical techniques to undergraduate students. Unlike most other sciences, astronomy is largely observational, not experimental, and making useful observations involves expensive equipment over time scales inconvenient for pedagogy. In recent years, however, astronomy has gone almost completely digital, and the advent of large on-line data bases and fast personal computers has made it possible to realistically simulate the experience of research astrophysics in the laboratory.

Since 1992, Project CLEA (Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy) has been developing such computer-based exercises aimed primarily at the introductory astronomy laboratory. These exercises simulate important techniques of astronomical research using digital data and Windows-based software. Each of the 14 exercises developed to date consists of software, technical guides for teachers, and student manuals for the exercises. CLEA software is used at many institutions in all the United States and over 60 countries world-wide, in a variety of settings from middle school to upper-class astronomy classes. We will describe and demonstrate some of the CLEA materials and talk about our design philosophy. Plans for future development will be presented.

Attendees will receive a CD with all current software and several student manuals that will be used in the workshop. All other documentation is included on the CD. These programs may be used for educational purposes at no charge. They run under Windows 95/98/NT/XP. They have been used at some colleges under emulation software on Macs.

Project CLEA is supported by grants from Gettysburg College and the National Science Foundation.