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This institute is designed for those interested in making major changes in introductory physics courses through new teaching strategies based on research in physics education and cognition. Strategies include the comprehensive use of Macintosh and MS Windows tools in introductory physics (microcomputer and calculator-based laboratory tools, MBL and CBL™, spreadsheet and graphical analysis, mathematical modeling and visualisation, digital video analysis, and interactive simulations).

Thirty college/university and 30 high school participants will be selected. The deadline for applications is March 18. For more information or to obtain an application, contact Gail Oliver, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Dickinson College, Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013, Phone: (717) 245-1845, Fax: (717) 245-1642, oliver@dickinson.edu.

Chautauqua Short Courses: Promoting Active Learning in Introductory Physics Courses.

When: May 28-30, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
June 11-13, Kapi'olani Community College, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Instructors: Priscilla Laws, David Sokoloff, and Ronald Thornton.

These NSF-sponsored Chautauqua courses are designed for those interested in making major changes in introductory physics courses or in other introductory science courses. The focus will be on giving participants direct experience with methods for promoting active student involvement in the learning process.

Open to teachers of undergraduate students in institutions of higher education in the U.S. High school teachers and faculty from outside the U.S. are also admitted if space is available. There is a small application fee, but no tuition. For more information contact David Sokoloff, Department of Physics, 1274 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-1274, Phone (541) 346-4755, Fax (541) 346-5861, sokoloff@oregon.uoregon.edu.

Project PHYSLab '98
Project PHYSLab will again be held at three sites next summer: Portland, OR; Omaha, NE; and Palo Alto, CA. Last summer's workshops were very popular and successful. These are 3-week workshops involving computer interfacing, spreadsheets, physics software, internet instruction, and low-cost physics equipment. Lodging, food, travel allowance, and a stipend are provided. Graduate credit can be arranged. Project PHYSLab is funded by the NSF, M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Tektronix Foundation, and The Catlin Gabel School. Contact Lowell G. Herr, The Catlin Gabel School, 8825 SW Barnes Rd., Portland, OR 97225, lherr@physlab.catlin.edu, http://physlab.catlin.edu.

Contests
Vernier Software again sponsored the AAPT Physics Photo Contest. The winning pictures are displayed on the web site www.aapt.org/aaptgeneral/competitions.html. One of the winners is displayed to the right. Students are required to write a paragraph explaining the physics illustrated in the photo. Encourage your students to enter next summer's contest. Contact Ann Brandon, Joliet West HS, 401 N. Larkin Ave, IL 60435 for more details.

The photo shown here is by Carol Morse, oerosa HS, Parker, CO. Teacher:Margaret Brinker. Title: Teeter-Totter/Merry-Go-Round
Here are three other contests you may want to consider:

• Duracell/NSTA Scholarship Competition (students design battery-powered device); deadline January 14, 1998; call 888-255-4242.
• ExporaVision Awards (students envision how present technologies could be used 20 years in the future); deadline February 3, 1998; call 800-EXPLOR-9.
• Tapestry (teachers apply for $10,000 grants); call 800-807-9852.

We had a successful series of one-day workshops this summer here at Vernier Software in Portland, Oregon. On separate days, these hands-on workshops covered CBL, Macintosh, and Windows data collection in the laboratory. We had 115 participants from as far away as Florida. We plan to run a similar series of workshops next summer. Watch for details in our Spring 1998 newsletter, or on our web page at www.vernier.com. The workshops are essentially free. (There is a small fee, but you get a gift certificate of equal value, which you can use on your next purchase.)