MicroObservatory Online Chat Session
Friday, August 1
TOPIC:  
For today's session we would like to get an idea of:
1)  where everyone stands with  regard to their MO projects-- 
Give an overview of the project/s you described in your 
questionnaire, for others to hear:  The subject area of the project, 
the learning goals, the person/people with whom you are working, 
your progress on the project thus far, 
and your plans for implementing the project in class; 
2) your thoughts about the workshop--
What was it like to learn the skills needed for using MO 
without the benefit of in-person interaction with an instructor; 
how did the online conversations help /hinder your progress; 
what might be the next step in carrying forward the things you 
learned in these last 3 weeks?

Fsdeutsch:	hi, lets have a party
Fsdeutsch:	ga
BHoff1:	Happy Birthday Freeman!
Fsdeutsch:	thanks
Fsdeutsch:	ga
R Maki:	How many trips around the sun, Freeman?
Fsdeutsch:	36
BMellin503:	Happy Birthday Freeman....
you're still a youngster!!
Fsdeutsch:	thaks
Lwaxman:	At least in comparison to me, 
Happy Birthday, Freeman!
Fsdeutsch:	thanks
BHoff1:	Shall we begin?
BHoff1:	By the way, Steve is here, in case 
relevant questions arise?
BHoff1:	Welcome to the last official MicroObservatory 
Online Meeting.
BHoff1:	Unfortunately Linda can't be with us today--
she is presently out on the road
BHoff1:	with 2 flat tires :( and called to say she 
won't make it back in time.  She wants everyone to know 
that you can continue to email her and correspond
BHoff1:	with her beyond the workshop.
BHoff1:	I hope you have all found these meetings as 
helpful as I, and that we can find
BHoff1:	a convenient way to continue having them 
after the workshop.
BHoff1:	You know the protocol, so I'll just plow ahead.
BHoff1:	For today's session we would like to get an 
idea of 1)  where everyone stands with
BHoff1:	regard to their MO projects:  Give an overview 
of the project/s you described in your
BHoff1:	questionnaire, for others to hear:  
The subject area of the project, the learning goals,
BHoff1:	the person/people with whom you are working, 
your progress on the project thus far,
BHoff1:	and your plans for implementing the project 
in class; 2) your thoughts about the
BHoff1:	workshop:  What was it like to learn the 
skills needed for using MO without the benefit
BHoff1:	of in-person interaction with an instructor; 
how did the online conversations help
BHoff1:	/hinder your progress; what might be the next 
step in carrying forward the things you
BHoff1:	learned in these last 3 weeks?
BHoff1:	On a last note, I will still be accessible 
through e-mail, or phone if needed, and I hope
BHoff1:	that we will all continue working together.  
Please take advantage of the chat room
BHoff1:	and BB as a way of staying in communication.  
For example, if there is something you
BHoff1:	would like to discuss with the group, e-mail 
us with a day and time, and continue using
BHoff1:	"microobservatory" as our private room.  
We are off to a great start--thank you all!
BHoff1:	GA
RobOchs:	!
BHoff1:	GA Rob
RobOchs:	The subject of my project is to determine 
the mass of Jupiter using its moons
RobOchs:	The goals are to hone observation skills; 
integrate math with my astronomy course and
RobOchs:	improve writing skills
RobOchs:	I am working with Linda
RobOchs:	The progress I have had this week is mainly 
due to attending a Texas Instruments
RobOchs:	seminar on the TI 83 calculator.  I am 
implementing the sine regression function of the
RobOchs:	calculator so that the students can enter 
their data into two lists, mash a button and out
RobOchs:	comes the amplitude and period.  This will 
remove much of the fear of math in this
RobOchs:	project for many of my students.  I have decided 
on CCDSoft for image processing and am
RobOchs:	working on a site license with Tom Bisque
RobOchs:	I have two astronomy classes this fall and I will 
use the program in both classes.
RobOchs:	I really have enjoyed the workshop and plan to 
keep active in the program. Hopefully
RobOchs:	we can have lots of scheduled and unscheduled 
virtual meetings.  GA
BHoff1:	Any questions for Rob?
R Maki:	11
BHoff1:	GA Dick
R Maki:	I've also been playing with the TI-83
R Maki:	Could you tell me how you do the regression?  
Not now, but maybe in an email GA
RobOchs:	I will post it to the BBS.  I am going to 
ChemED 97 this weekend
Nazin:	!
RobOchs:	but will return Thursday.  It will be 
there then.  GA
R Maki:	Thanks
BHoff1:	GA Bill
Nazin:	I am working on two projects.  Both have 
collaboration as a main component.  
1)  Project "Birth Star"  asks students to locate 
a star about the same light distance from earth as 
they are old.  This project will require the student 
to compile similar information on
Nazin:	themselves and the star  ( size, weight, time 
of birth, location and
Nazin:	relationships with others and to other objects.)  
This project will continue as a "Timeline" project that 
will use the same objectives only in relation to 
family history, world history and earth history.   I
Nazin:	hope to be doing this project with Cynthia. 
2) This project is a
Nazin:	combined project with Mary and Linda and I.  
It will use MO as a means to take pictures of the 
different phases of the moon.  It will also have
Nazin:	students study different cultural legends 
of the moon.  The goals of both projects will obviously 
be to learn how to control the MO
Nazin:	telescopes, but beyond that they will be learning 
in all areas of study including writing, history, math, etc.
Nazin:	I have found the online meetings enjoyable.  
The meetings at times have been difficult due to the 
time it takes to "say" something but in
Nazin:	general it worked for me.  GA
BHoff1:	I want to suggest that since today is the last 
official workshop day,
BHoff1:	and you have something you'd like to say that 
is not related to the topic,
BHoff1:	please feel free.
CynSol:	!
BHoff1:	GA Cynthia
CynSol:	I regret not being here for the whole time.
CynSol:	I would like to know you all better.
CynSol:	But in the past week I have learned a lot.
CynSol:	ga
BMellin503:	!
BHoff1:	GA Bruce
BMellin503:	I have found this an interesting format....
BMellin503:	I'm not sure if I like it or not..
Need more time to play with this type of communication...
BMellin503:	I am pleased to be part of this effort...
BMellin503:	I feel like I am finally connected with 
a network of people with similar interests
BMellin503:	I hope we continue to communicate with 
and exchange ideas with each other...
BMellin503:	Larry and I will test out how students 
use this format for real long range communication
format for real long range communication
BMellin503:	I will build my astro-program aboud the 
MO this fall...that will be a big (and welcome) 
change for me.
Lwaxman:	!!
BMellin503:	Thanks to all of you for the time invested 
to make this workshop possible...
BMellin503:	especially to out fearless leaders...
beth and linda...Did rocky and bullwinkle start this way?
BMellin503:	ga
BHoff1:	GA Larry
Lwaxman:	I just want to ditto Bruse.
SheM2G:	!
Lwaxman:	and say that I probably would have learned 
more in person but this is a lot less expensive
Lwaxman:	so the returns with limited budget is 
probably great.  I just hope our students can be as
Lwaxman:	effective with this format.  GA
AlbertM497:	!
BHoff1:	GA Mary
BHoff1:	oops wait GA Sheila first
SheM2G:	:)  ditto Bruce and Larry
AlbertM497:	Sorry to all for being late....AOL 
problems.  I have really enjoyed
BMellin503:	I've been dittoed again..
SheM2G:	I will continue work on the Moon 
(as a concentration) but I would like to focus on objects
SheM2G:	Do I continue?
NO1STAR:	!
BHoff1:	If you'd like--GA Sheila
SheM2G:	within the solar system.  I will not be 
teaching an astronomy course in the fall,
SheM2G:	although I hope to start a course in the 
following academic year (fall, 1998).
SheM2G:	This year I hope to work with the astronomy 
club.  The school where I will be teaching
SheM2G:	has lots of online access, and I have already 
spoken to the director of computing
SheM2G:	facilities, who has already added Graphic 
Converter to the server.  NIH and GifBuilder
SheM2G:	is next.  In any event,
SheM2G:	I am trying to take a more conceptual, as well 
as exploratry, approach to the
SheM2G:	information received from the telescopes.
SheM2G:	For instance, I want the students to determine 
the best settings for their images.  I
SheM2G:	want the students to tell me what information 
they can learn from the images they take,
SheM2G:	rather than me telling them what to compute.  
The students will use Redshift and
SheM2G:	Voyager, as well as online resources to find 
the objects in the sky.  I hope to guide
SheM2G:	them through image processing,
SheM2G:	and then I would like the students to make 
web pages of their findings, to be added to the
SheM2G:	school home pages.  The past few weeks, 
I have been working on a teachers' guide to the
been working on a teachers' guide to the
SheM2G:	Moon pages already constructed, as well 
as a historical and mythological account of the
SheM2G:	Moon.  I also have been trying to find 
occultations of the Moon, and any bright point (like
SheM2G:	a planet
SheM2G:	or bright star) in the sky (using Redshift 
and Voyager), but I have not found
SheM2G:	anything during the day for N. Americans 
(here's hoping for another scope).
SheM2G:	I am also playing with NIH trying to learn 
more about the capability
SheM2G:	Overall, I am trying to set up the forum
SheM2G:	for students (in a extracurricular setting) 
to develop their own projects.
SheM2G:	I have really enjoyed the conversation from 
all of you
SheM2G:	and I have learned a lot about the scopes and 
about teaching.  GA
BHoff1:	GA Mary
AlbertM497:	these conferences when I could be on-line.  
It is a flat format, but less expensive than
Everhartj:	!
AlbertM497:	....apparently, I interjected in the 
middle of Sheila's conversation.
BHoff1:	I don't think so, she said GA, so you can GA Mary
AlbertM497:	Less expensive than travel.  I have been 
in over my head from day one,
AlbertM497:	and I appreciate all the help I have 
received from the staff and participants.
AlbertM497:	I particularly found the conversation 
about assessment interesting.
AlbertM497:	Anyhow,  I could use more help with trying 
to find objects with the MO, such as Jupiter
RobOchs:	!
AlbertM497:	's moons, and objects outside the solar system.  
I have been "playing" with NIH, and more by accident 
than design, have been learning to do some interesting things.  
But I could use a lot of help in
AlbertM497:	these two areas.  Originally, I had 
planned to
AlbertM497:	work on a project in the southern hemisphere
AlbertM497:	but my goals have changed, and I 
have been able to build lesson plans with Larry 
here in Anchorage, Bill in NY, Tom, and Linda.  
Much more depth than I had originally planned, but I
AlbertM497:	am finding this to always be the case 
with on-line collaboration.  GA
BHoff1:	GA Bob
JCatanz1:	!
NO1STAR:	Just wanted to say that I think it will be 
important to let students develop ideas and conce
NO1STAR:	concepts - I think that we will be surprised 
at what they will tell us about the system. I do hope 
we will get a  few glitches fixed and then it will
NO1STAR:	be super - and great to see so much energy in 
the ideas I have been seeing But one thing - we do need 
to share and that will be an important
NO1STAR:	part of this process - it is happening and 
hope it continues GA
BHoff1:	GA John
Everhartj:	I have thoroughly enjoyed these three 
weeks of sharing with kindred spirits
Everhartj:	I enjoyed the flexibility of the format 
also (obviously, I'm at the beach now)
Everhartj:	I am in the process of setting up an exercise 
in imaging the messier catalog.  I chose
Everhartj:	this because my students were so intriqued 
by trying to photograph these objects
Everhartj:	Since not all objects are available for 
imaging at the same time, the students must
Everhartj:	plan to image those that appropriate 
for the season.
Everhartj:	It has been a pleasure virtually 
meeting all of you an virtually renewing old 
aquantainces.  GA
BHoff1:	GA Rob
RobOchs:	I just wanted to say thanks to the staff 
for their hard work on this project.  Beth and
RobOchs:	Linda have been super.  I also know how hard 
Steve Leiker has worked on the project.  I
RobOchs:	saw him working in 1992 ... his work will 
have a tremendous impact on my students.
RobOchs:	I close my official comments with a 
quotation I saw this morning at the TI conference.
RobOchs:	A mediocre teacher tells
RobOchs:	A good teacher explainsj
RobOchs:	A superior teacher demonstrates
RobOchs:	A great teacher inspires
RobOchs:	William Arthur Ward
RobOchs:	This project will allow all of us to 
inspire... thanks GA
BHoff1:	Thank you Rob--GA Joe
JCatanz1:	It is useful and efficient to access 
people who can answer questions, and to exchange 
ideas with others
JCatanz1:	who are trying to accomplish similar things.
JCatanz1:	My project will be to hunt asteroids
JCatanz1:	and try to measure their properties, such
JCatanz1:	as angular velocity, magnitude, and rotation rate.
JCatanz1:	I've made good progress in finding, 
acquiring and learning to use many of the tools 
which will be needed.
JCatanz1:	The main task ahead is to create well thought-out
JCatanz1:	curriculum materials which can effectively
JCatanz1:	guide students to be successful at this project.
JCatanz1:	Within a group, we help each other to ascend the
JCatanz1:	learning curve much much more rapidly than with
JCatanz1:	individual effort -- and I think it would work
JCatanz1:	equally well for students.
JCatanz1:	Look forward to continuing to share ideas and
JCatanz1:	experiences with all the MO participants and staff.
JCatanz1:	Thinking of having my students use the  bulletin board
JCatanz1:	and electronic chat room if they will be available  
in the coming months.
JCatanz1:	And of course I look forward to having access 
to the Southern Hemisphere soon!
JCatanz1:	Thanks to everyone, and especially to 
the staff.  It's been great! GA
Nazin:	!
Everhartj:	ditto on the S Hemisphere
BHoff1:	GA Bill
Nazin:	I just wanted to say  as a new teacher it is 
a pleasure to see so many long time teachers who 
still have their student's interests at heart.  I
Nazin:	also wanted to thank Beth and Linda for all 
their help and everyone else
NO1STAR:	!
Nazin:	online.  While I didn't always give credit 
for the information I used I
Nazin:	did think about you while I was using it.  GA
BHoff1:	Thank you Bill.  GA Bob
NO1STAR:	Just wanted to say that a southern hemisphere 
scope will probably blow everyone away
NO1STAR:	If you have never seen the Milky Way 
from there - you are in for a treat
NO1STAR:	Bright enough to read by - no kidding - 
so that will really be anticipated
NO1STAR:	GA
AlbertM497:	!
BHoff1:	GA Mary
AlbertM497:	Awesome and admirable job, Beth, Linda 
and Staff.  So glad I could be a part of this! GA
R Maki:	!
BHoff1:	GA Dick
R Maki:	Beth, would it be possible for you to put a 
cheat-sheet of participant names and aol names, 
addresses and project titles
R Maki:	on the BB?   I admit that I haven't been 
great at getting all of it down during the past 3 weeks.GA
BHoff1:	Yes--I will actually try to get it on a page 
linked to the site instead of the BB so
BHoff1:	it will be more easily accessible.
R Maki:	Much appreciated :)
BHoff1:	Next week I will be at the Computer Museum 
in Boston showing some kids MO.  But I want to know 
if we can meet online sometime next week, and
BHoff1:	if perhaps Wednesday at 3 pm is possible 
for all of you, as I will be here and can be online
BHoff1:	at that time.GA
Lwaxman:	!
BHoff1:	GA Larry
Everhartj:	!!
Lwaxman:	I will be on a long awaited fishing trip  
but I will get the transcript from you.
RobOchs:	!
Lwaxman:	I have really enjoyed you all and thanks to 
all the staff.GA
BHoff1:	ok--GA John
Everhartj:	Fine with me
Everhartj:	on next week  GA
R Maki:	I'll try...high probability. GA
BHoff1:	Ok--I don't have a topic planned--I wonder if 
someone else can suggest one.
RobOchs:	I will not be back from ChemED 97 in Minneapolis 
until Thursday.  GA
NO1STAR:	!
JCatanz1:	ditto to RMaki's reply for me.
BHoff1:	GA Bob
AlbertM497:	!
NO1STAR:	I will be packing next week to go back to 
FL, but will try if you remind me
NO1STAR:	ga
BHoff1:	GA Mary
AlbertM497:	If I'm not silver salmon fishing, count 
me in...how about reflecting on the past three weeks
R Maki:	Got to make the bank before it closes!  It's 
been terrific. Thanks for all the help. Bye!
AlbertM497:	after the dust settles a bit, and any 
additions or changes to anticipated
NO1STAR:	!
BHoff1:	GA Bob]
NO1STAR:	thanks very much and will continue to use 
and work on the uses
NO1STAR:	and now I have to go to a meeting - but will 
pledge my support for the year
AlbertM497:	projects.  Any new discoveries (software, 
that is) using the MO. GA
NO1STAR:	Thanks a GA
BHoff1:	I will send out a message to everyone about 
next Wednesday.
Everhartj:	Gotta go make sure my wife hasn't fallen 
asleep on the beach.  It's been great
BHoff1:	And so far we're still able to use the bulletin 
board, so check for updates ther.
AlbertM497:	Thanks again to all.  Bye!
BHoff1:	Bye Larry  and Mary--thanks again!
Lwaxman:	Bye
Lwaxman:	I am just copying the stuff be gone when 
my printer is finished