First Summer Session 2009
ASTRO 580 Section 001W
Exploring the Universe in the Classroom
Reference Number: 24788, 3 credit hours
June 15-19, 2009
Location: On campus
Scope: This is an introduction to the cosmos for teachers. No previous background in astronomy is required. The materials are directed toward upper-elementary to high school teachers. However those teaching at any level will benefit. Teachers will be introduced to projects and demonstrations they can use in their classrooms. Topics include stars, constellations, planets, digital imaging and planetary comparisons.
Instructor:  Dr. Ronald Kaitchuck, Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Second Summer Session 2009
ASTRO 580 Section 001W
Galaxies and Cosmology Workshop
Reference Number: 23669, 3 credit hours
June 22-26
Location:  On Campus
Scope:  This workshop provides a scientific basis for answering questions about the evolution of matter in the universe and what is in store for the future. A brief review of properties of stars and stellar evolution will be followed by studies of our galaxy, the Milky Way, other galaxies, the formation and evolution of structure in the universe.  Lectures, movies, discussions, computer simulations and labs will be used to develop competence in topics addressed in science education standards on the universe frequently not well covered in astronomy courses for educators.  A combination of observational, theoretical and computational tools will be identified.
Instructor:  Dr. Robert Berrington, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy 

Second Summer Session 2009
ASTRO 582 Section 001W
Planetarium Operator's Workshop
Reference Number: 23112, 3 credit hours
July 6-10
Location: On campus
Scope: This 5-day, hands-on course is for individuals seeking to make effective use of the planetarium facility. The class members will gain the basic knowledge to plan, produce, and execute programs, as well as maintain a planetarium facility. By the end of the course the students will produce their own automated planetarium program. This workshop is for persons who want to explore creative avenues for their current facility and for those new to the planetarium field.
Instructor:  Dr. Ronald Kaitchuck, Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

First Summer Session 2009
ASTRO 602 Section 001W/PHYCS 602 Section 001W
Observational Astronomy Workshop for Teachers
Reference Number: 24796/24800, 3 credit hours
June 15-19
Location: On campus
Scope: Participants will learn how to plan and conduct astronomical observing sessions using common resource materials such as star charts and graphic timetables of the heavens.  Celestial coordinate systems and astronomical time systems will be discussed.  The basic properties and use of small telescopes will be presented.  Basic techniques in CCD imaging will be presented.
Instructor:  Dr. Thomas Jordan, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Second Summer Session 2009
ASTRO 604 Section 001W/PHYCS 604 Section 001W
Physical Foundations of Astronomy Workshop
Reference Number: 23138/23147, 3 credit hours
July 13-17
Location: On campus
Scope: Centers on the applications of the fundamental laws of nature as applied to the space program, for space travel and in nuclear energy generation.  Teachers learn the basic principles of physics presented in the context of modern astronomy and astrophysics.  They learn the basics of celestial mechanics and space exploration.  This workshop contains many hands-on exercises to help re-enforce the concepts and applications.
Instructor:  Dr. Thomas Jordan, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Summer Semester 2009
ASTRO 606 Section 001B/PHYCS 606 Section 001B
Stellar Evolution and Black Holes
Reference Number: 18583/18591, 3 credit hours
July 27-31
Location: On campus
Scope: Provides teachers with a broad background in stellar astronomy and stellar evolution. This workshop discusses the physical properties of stars and the nature of gravitational oddities like black holes.  This allows teachers to discuss these topics and concepts in meaningful ways with their students. The workshop introduces teachers to a variety of stellar topics. Discussion of basic stellar properties is presented in lectures. Laboratory activities demonstrate how astronomers measure these properties and glean meaningful data from their observations. Exotic objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes are discussed in the context of stellar evolution.
Instructor:  Dr. Thomas Jordan, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Summer Semester 2009
PHYCS 685 Section 001B
Advanced Placement Physics B and C Workshop for Teachers - Electricity and Magnetism
Reference Number: 18613, 3 credit hours
July 27-31
Location: On campus
Scope: Physics content is the focus of this workshop on Advanced Placement Physics B and C electricity and magnetism.  Teachers actively participate in problem-solving sessions including calculus-based (C teachers) and non-calculus problems (B and C teachers).  An overview of the Advanced Placement Physics B and C program in physics will be given and the philosophy, structure, and grading of the Physics B and C tests will be briefly discussed.  (For new and experienced Advanced Placement Physics B and C teachers.)
Instructor: Dr. Eric Hedin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Second Summer Session 2009
PHYCS 685 Section 001W
Computational Physics Workshop for H.S. Teachers
Reference Number: 23104, 3 credit hours
July 13-17
Location: On campus
Scope: The course provides teachers with tools for giving high school students an edge in the use of computers for data analysis by the computer in college laboratory coursework in the sciences, and it provides an excellent preparation for introductory-level college computer science courses.  Applications will cover aspects of everyday physics accessible to computational simulation which would otherwise be hard to treat in an introductory level, such as the physics of baseball, nonlinear motion and chaos, and random dynamics. In addition the workshop will treat basic algorithms and best practices in writing your own programs to solve problems in physics while emphasizing the simple concepts of physics that underlay the simulation of the natural world in research and such applications as computer games.  Also, software and other resources for developing programs will be examined with a focus on Python, a high level MATLAB-like language which is freely available, and designed in part for education and yet used in scientific computational research.
Instructor: Dr. Antonio Cancio, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Second Summer Session 2009
PHYCS 685 Section 002W
Video Analysis Workshop for Teachers
Reference Number: 23120, 3 credit hours
July 6–10
Location: On campus
Scope: Digital video and computer software now enable detailed study of motion that was impossible in the recent past.  Participants in this course will receive a personal copy of Vernier's inexpensive video analysis software and learn how to use it by analyzing video clips of one and two dimensional motion and by developing student investigations that can be incorporated into introductory and advanced placement physics courses. 
Instructor:  Dr. Joel Bryan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Second Summer Session 2009
PHYCS 685 Section 003W
Advanced Placement Physics B and C Workshop for Teachers – Mechanics
Reference Number: 23163, 3 credit hours
July 20-24
Location: On campus
Scope: Physics content is the focus of this workshop on Advanced Placement Physics B and C mechanics.  Teachers actively participate in problem-solving sessions including calculus-based (C teachers) and non-calculus problems (B and C teachers).  An overview of the Advanced Placement Physics B and C program in physics will be given and the philosophy, structure, and grading of the Physics B and C tests will be briefly discussed.  (For new and experienced Advanced Placement Physics B and C teachers.)
Instructor: Dr. Eric Hedin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Second Summer Session 2009
PHYCS 696 Section 001W
Modern Developments in Physics Teaching
Reference Number: 23155, 3 credit hours
July 20-24
Location: On campus
Scope: During this one week course students will examine physics education research in order to discover why students think as they do, how students acquire and construct knowledge, and how to best facilitate a learning environment that will lead to the greatest opportunity of success for all students.  Through literature research, interactive engagement, laboratory activities, and/or lesson plan development, students will examine and apply physics education research in the areas of student misconceptions, the role and use of assessments, the use of technology in teaching and learning, the nature of science and its role in physics knowledge development, and the value of guided and unguided inquiry laboratory techniques.
Instructor:  Dr. Joel Bryan, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy

Workshops for Teachers
Teacher Updating/Retraining Programs
For more information on fees, application and registration, contact Thomas Robertson, Department of Physics and Astronomy at (765) 285-8860, or visit the web site at http://www.bsu.edu/physics/