These workshops are targeted for college instructors of 100-level astronomy classes and high school instructors who presently teach astronomy or may be interested in developing an astronomy course. They have three goals: 1) to acquaint educators with the new innovative usages of instructional technology in astronomy education, 2) to introduce new developments in the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy, and 3) to bring together members of the astronomy and physics teaching community to share ideas and identify potential collaborators.

This event is open to local high school and college astronomy and physics instructors who register in advance. You may register by email or by phone at 402-472-3686. There is no cost for the workshop and coupons for parking garage fees and all instructional materials will be provided. Ferguson Hall and the Stadium Drive Parking Garage can be found on the following set of campus maps which allow one to magnify a region by clicking on it.

• 2:00 pm - Welcome & Announcements

• 2:15 pm - Keynote Address

Dr. Richard McCray - University of Colorado

"Web Resources for Physics & Astronomy"

Abstract: I'll give an overview of some of the web resources and Java applets that I have found and helped to develop for teaching introductory astronomy and physics. Many (but not all) of these can be found through links in my hypertext at http://cosmos.colorado.edu/astr1120/hypertext.html. Then, I want to engage in a discussion with the audience on how these resources can be used most effectively in various learning environments, how their design can be improved, and what new resources we might wish to develop.




Background information on Dick can be found here.




• 3:30 pm - Break (Snacks & Beverages)

• 3:45 pm - Report on Astronomy Events at UNL

• 4:00 pm - "Demonstrations in the Astronomy Lecture Class"

Dave Kriegler (UNO), Kevin Lee (UNL), Ed Schmidt (UNL) & others

• Blackbody Curves by Melting a Nail
• Sunpots and Magnetic Field Lines on the Overhead Projector
• Charged Particles and the Earth's Magnetosphere
• the Hoberman Sphere
• Precession
• Parallax
• Dave's Big Bulb

• 4:30 pm - Hands-on Computer Laboratory (in Ferguson 21) - "Applications of FLASH in Astronomy Education"

Kevin Lee (UNL) and Chris Siedell (UNL)

We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using FLASH to deliver interactive content on the web and look at some web pages taking full advantage of its capabiltities. We will then demonstrate prototypes for two projects we have been working on: Interactive ConcepTests and the Brooks/Cole Virtual Astronomy Laboratory.

• 5:45 pm - Dinner at Spaghetti Works (optional, dinner at your expense)

This workshop is sponsored by the UNL Center for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education and the UNL Department of Physics and Astronomy. Educational materials have been provided by NASA, Prentice Hall Publishing, and Brooks/Cole Publishing.

Back to the Astronomy Education Home Page