Purdue University Marks Two Years of Astronomy Education with Slooh

  Since Fall 2023, Purdue University has integrated Slooh into its undergraduate astronomy curriculum, significantly enriching the educational experience in large-enrollment introductory courses. Under the leadership of Professor Robert Austin from the Department of Physics and Astronomy, Slooh has become a central component of ASTR 263 and ASTR 264, offering students direct access to live astronomical observations and structured experiential learning activities. Slooh has also become a cornerstone of Purdue’s broader outreach efforts through the SMAP (Science, Math, and Astronomy Pipeline) program, connecting high school students globally to real-time astronomy. 

Implementation and Integration

 Over four academic semesters, Slooh has been fully embedded into course delivery, including integration with Purdue’s Brightspace learning management system. This integration facilitates seamless onboarding and access for students, ideal for the large lecture format with enrollments ranging from 100 to 200 students per section.

“The Brightspace integration has made it easier for students to sign up,” Austin explains. 

Professor Austin uses Slooh’s structured curriculum, the Quests, to reinforce core astronomy concepts through weekly assignments. Each Quest guides students through targeted observational activities aligned with lecture topics and textbook content (he uses the OpenStax Astronomy textbook), enabling a cohesive and immersive learning pathway.

The Quests allow students to actively participate in the scientific process by scheduling telescope time, capturing images, and interpreting celestial phenomena in real-time. These activities foster deeper conceptual understanding and student engagement, particularly valuable in non-major science courses that emphasize scientific literacy.

“Slooh has proven to be a much easier and more effective platform than other alternatives like Skynet.” Austin says.

Outreach and Engagement  

Slooh has also played a key role in advancing Purdue’s outreach mission. Through the SMAP program, high school students worldwide have used the platform to explore the night sky, often participating in Slooh’s live “Star Party” shows. This initiative exemplifies the scalability and accessibility of remote observatory technology for both formal education and public engagement. Below are two SMAP students with their blown up Slooh posters!

Scalability and Future Outlook

Slooh has already reshaped how nearly a thousand Purdue students engage with the cosmos. With targeted enhancements—especially in Brightspace interoperability and research-level functionality—Slooh is poised to become an enduring part of Purdue University’s approach to experiential science education. Slooh looks forward to year three with Professor Austin this coming Fall and hopes to reach many new high school students through the SMAP program.