Abstract
Since the early 1990s there has been a proliferation of astronomy courses offered over the Internet. Accompanying the courses has been an increasing number of robotic and remote-control telescopes. Since 1994, Charles Sturt University, Australia, has offered a course on cosmology for gifted and talented high-school students and, since 2000, a remote control telescope for use by elementary- and high-schoolteachers and their students. Both programs are accompanied by extensive resource materials and are offered by distance education to participants. This paper describes many of the outcomes of the research conducted on both projects and what has been learned with respect to the necessary conditions in order that elementary- and high-schoolteachers engage with exciting programs on offer. Professional development of teachers is a key issue if these programs are to be successful.
