TURNING THE TURNING THE NVO INTO AN NVO INTO AN

“EVO”“EVO”An EducationalAn Educational

Virtual Observatory Virtual ObservatoryLarry MarschallLarry Marschall

Project CLEAProject CLEAGettysburg CollegeGettysburg College

NVO EPO Workshop, JHU/STScI, July 11, 2002NVO EPO Workshop, JHU/STScI, July 11, 2002

THE TWO PRIME DIRECTIVES THE TWO PRIME DIRECTIVES IN DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL IN DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL

MATERIALSMATERIALS

•Consider your AudienceConsider your Audience

•Consider your educational Consider your educational objectivesobjectives

AUDIENCES FOR CLASSROOM AUDIENCES FOR CLASSROOM MATERIALSMATERIALS

•Students :Science Majors or Non-Students :Science Majors or Non-Science Majors?Science Majors?

•Faculty: Trained Astronomers or Faculty: Trained Astronomers or Not? Not?

•Institutions: HS, 2 yr, 4 yr, Univ? Institutions: HS, 2 yr, 4 yr, Univ?

Example: Introductory College Example: Introductory College Level AstronomyLevel Astronomy

•Who takes introductory astronomy in the US?Who takes introductory astronomy in the US?

•200 – 250 K students/year; mostly non-200 – 250 K students/year; mostly non-science majors.science majors.

•Who teaches introductory astronomy in the Who teaches introductory astronomy in the US?US?

• Most classes are taught by instructors Most classes are taught by instructors whose Ph.D. is NOT in astronomy.whose Ph.D. is NOT in astronomy.

EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LABORATORY EXERCISES DIRECTED LABORATORY EXERCISES DIRECTED

AT NON-SCIENCE MAJORSAT NON-SCIENCE MAJORS

•Keep it simpleKeep it simple

•Highlight fundamental astrophysical Highlight fundamental astrophysical research techniquesresearch techniques

• Avoid “black boxiness” --- methods Avoid “black boxiness” --- methods should be transparent to user. should be transparent to user.

EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR EDUCATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LABORATORY EXERCISES DIRECTED LABORATORY EXERCISES DIRECTED

AT PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY AT PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY MAJORSMAJORS

• Complexities and tricks can be includedComplexities and tricks can be included

• Clever variations on basic techniques or exotic Clever variations on basic techniques or exotic applications are acceptableapplications are acceptable

• Avoid “black boxiness” --- methods should be Avoid “black boxiness” --- methods should be transparent to user. transparent to user.

•What about teaching data mining itself? Is What about teaching data mining itself? Is “Data Mining” a black box?“Data Mining” a black box?

An Example:An Example: PROJECT CLEAPROJECT CLEAContemporary Laboratory Experiences in Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in

AstronomyAstronomy

•Laboratory exercises illustrating modern astronomical Laboratory exercises illustrating modern astronomical techniquestechniques

•Designed for non-science majors, but adaptable.Designed for non-science majors, but adaptable.

•Simulation of measurement process.Simulation of measurement process.

•Modern digital data and analysis techniques, using, Modern digital data and analysis techniques, using, wherever possible, real data.wherever possible, real data.

•Modular: each module includes software, student Modular: each module includes software, student workbook(s) technical guide. workbook(s) technical guide.

•Funded by Gettysburg College and the NSFFunded by Gettysburg College and the NSF

PROJECT CLEAPROJECT CLEAContemporary Laboratory Experiences in Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in

AstronomyAstronomy

•Larry Marschall: P.I.; Graphic Design and ManualsLarry Marschall: P.I.; Graphic Design and Manuals

•Glenn Snyder: SoftwareGlenn Snyder: Software

•P.Richard Cooper: Manager and Outreach CoordinatorP.Richard Cooper: Manager and Outreach Coordinator

•Also Mike Hayden, Rhonda Good, Mia Luehrmann, Also Mike Hayden, Rhonda Good, Mia Luehrmann, Helenmarie Hofmann, Marcus Lieberman, Helenmarie Hofmann, Marcus Lieberman,

•Students: Shawn Baker, Erin Walsh, Brin Finnigan, Julia Students: Shawn Baker, Erin Walsh, Brin Finnigan, Julia Lynch, Lauren Jones, Michell VojtushLynch, Lauren Jones, Michell Vojtush

Project StaffProject Staff

PROJECT CLEAPROJECT CLEAContemporary Laboratory Experiences in Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in

AstronomyAstronomyDISSEMINATIONDISSEMINATION

•Freeware (to educational users).Freeware (to educational users).

•Software and manuals downloadable from website:Software and manuals downloadable from website:

http://www.gettysburg.edu/academics/physics/clea/CLEAhome.html

• Users in all states and > 60 countriesUsers in all states and > 60 countries

•Manuals available in Manuals available in Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Hebrew, , Italian, Dutch, Polish, Hebrew, Kiwi, ???Kiwi, ???

PROJECT CLEAPROJECT CLEAContemporary Laboratory Experiences in Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in

AstronomyAstronomyTRAININGTRAINING

•Workshops at AAPT Sectional meetingsWorkshops at AAPT Sectional meetings

•Workshops at AAPT national meetingsWorkshops at AAPT national meetings

•For Physics faculty who are teaching Astronomy coursesFor Physics faculty who are teaching Astronomy courses: 9-: 9-day workshops on Research Techniques in Astronomy, at day workshops on Research Techniques in Astronomy, at Gettysburg and Green Bank: June 2000, 2001, and coming Gettysburg and Green Bank: June 2000, 2001, and coming up: 2003 and 2004. up: 2003 and 2004.

PROJECT CLEAPROJECT CLEAContemporary Laboratory Experiences in Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in

AstronomyAstronomyASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

•Pre and post concept tests available for Pre and post concept tests available for downloading.downloading.

•Satisfaction survey available on line.Satisfaction survey available on line.

•Site visits by external evaluator.

•Study of lab and non-lab classes by Gina Brissenden, University of Wisconsin.

EXERCISES FROM EXERCISES FROM PROJECT CLEA (1)PROJECT CLEA (1)

EXERCISES FROM EXERCISES FROM PROJECT CLEA (2)PROJECT CLEA (2)

EXERCISES FROM EXERCISES FROM PROJECT CLEA (3)PROJECT CLEA (3)

Collaboration over the LANCollaboration over the LAN

THE SEARCH FOR OBJECT XTHE SEARCH FOR OBJECT XA “Capstone” ExerciseA “Capstone” Exercise

•Students are given the coordinates of an unknown object and Students are given the coordinates of an unknown object and a summary of identification criteriaa summary of identification criteria

•Access to Optical, Radio, IR and X-ray telescopes & Access to Optical, Radio, IR and X-ray telescopes & instruments: instruments: VIREO: The Virtual Educational ObservatoryVIREO: The Virtual Educational Observatory

•Carry out an observing program of their own design, Carry out an observing program of their own design, identify type of object.identify type of object.

•Measure its physical characteristicsMeasure its physical characteristics

•Write report in specified format (Journal article, lab report, Write report in specified format (Journal article, lab report, etc).etc).

•Note: The Object X database currently contains 20 million Note: The Object X database currently contains 20 million stars, 50,000 galaxies, 6000 qso’s, 20,000 asteroids, 1000 stars, 50,000 galaxies, 6000 qso’s, 20,000 asteroids, 1000 pulsars, 50 million IR sources. Under development: X-ray pulsars, 50 million IR sources. Under development: X-ray

THE SEARCH FOR OBJECT X THE SEARCH FOR OBJECT X and the Virtual Educational and the Virtual Educational

ObservatoryObservatory

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONSGENERAL CONSIDERATIONSin making EVO’s from the NVOin making EVO’s from the NVO

•SELECTED DATA SETS, not access to the entire SELECTED DATA SETS, not access to the entire database, is what is requireddatabase, is what is required

•THE USER INTERFACE is of prime importance, THE USER INTERFACE is of prime importance, and should be designed, if not created, by teachers. and should be designed, if not created, by teachers. The advice and collaboration of the research The advice and collaboration of the research community is essential, however.community is essential, however.

•BOTH DATA and PROCESSING can be BOTH DATA and PROCESSING can be distributed, but servers may have to handle the distributed, but servers may have to handle the onslaught of classes rather than sporadic users. onslaught of classes rather than sporadic users.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR PROJECT WHAT’S NEXT FOR PROJECT CLEACLEA??

X-Ray Astronomy: Integrating X-Ray Astronomy: Integrating CHANDRA data via the web and DS-9CHANDRA data via the web and DS-9

OLEO: The On-Line Educational OLEO: The On-Line Educational Observatory on the webObservatory on the web

““I Can’t believe it’s not a real telescope”I Can’t believe it’s not a real telescope”

•Teacher’s guides and more alternative Teacher’s guides and more alternative student manuals. student manuals.

THETHENATIONAL VIRTUAL NATIONAL VIRTUAL

OBSERVATORYOBSERVATORY

is the line between is the line between observation and observation and

simulation blurring?simulation blurring?

CLEA MANUALS IN SPANISHCLEA MANUALS IN SPANISH

CLEA MANUALS IN ITALIANCLEA MANUALS IN ITALIAN

CLEA MANUALS IN DUTCHCLEA MANUALS IN DUTCH

CLEA MANUALS IN HEBREWCLEA MANUALS IN HEBREW

CLEA MANUALS IN POLISHCLEA MANUALS IN POLISH

CLEA MANUALS IN KIWICLEA MANUALS IN KIWI

An older “Canned Lab” on Spectral An older “Canned Lab” on Spectral ClassificationClassification

Modern Modern Astronomy Astronomy uses digital uses digital

spectra spectra displayed displayed

graphicallygraphically..

An Older “Canned Lab” An Older “Canned Lab” on Hubble’s Lawon Hubble’s Law

The CLEA WEBSITE: The CLEA WEBSITE: http://www.gettysburg.edu/academics/physics/CLEAhome.htmlhttp://www.gettysburg.edu/academics/physics/CLEAhome.html