9354514 Marschall This grant continues for two more years a project under which the current investigators have been developing a series of modules for the introductory astronomy lab since the Fall of 1992. The modules address a pressing need for modernization in introductory astronomy laboratories: Though astronomy is a very popular course for undergraduates, and for many their first and only college experience in science, laboratories in introductory astronomy have difficulty doing experiments because of the faintness of astronomical objects, the long time scale of many phenomena and the fickleness of weather. Most astronomy exercises currently available to astronomy instructors rely on analysis of photographs or canned data and exemplify techniques that are increasingly out-of-date. Students rightly regard many of these activities as make-work. The current project, Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in Astronomy (CLEA), is developing 8 Windows-based exercises, running on IBM-compatible computers, that provide realistic observing experiences for introductory labs based around simulations, digital images, and, observations with CCD cameras on small telescopes. Each module consists of software, student guides, teachers' manuals, and technical documentation. The Windows modules, along with 5 Mac-based exercises and two digital imaging exercises introduced before NSF support, have been introduced into classes at Gettysburg College and distributed widely by ftp and by mail. CLEA software is currently in wide use. This project continues the work for another two years, developing an additional 8 modules and rewriting software and manuals so that the exercises can be used on Macintosh computers with color displays. This includes documentation, distribution, and dissemination of the modules. The new exercises improve students understanding of astronomy and provide the means and the impetus for revitalizing introductory astronomy laboratories around the country
