Two new graphic computer dialogs for teachers

Abstract

We describe a pair of interactive computer–student dialogs developed for use primarily with elementary and high school teachers. The dialogs use graphic facilities for teaching about the sky as seen from the earth and about the phases of the moon. The primary aim is for the teachers to understand the nature of a scientific model, in this case the model of the phases of the moon, through a Socratic interaction with the computer. The dialogs are also being used by other university students.