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\subsubsection{Lab assignments}  The lab assignments in AST 208 have been completely rewritten over the past two years. The lab now seeks to communicate learning goals through authentic research experiences, using the tools astronomers regularly use (Python, DS9, observatory archives). A central goal of the lab is to foster independence in our students, in both defining and tackling problems. For this reason, labs are often perceived as very open-ended and loosely defined, and the instructors are often heard to say ``I bet you can find out if you google that'.  \subsubsection{Hands-on observing experience}  It is a long-standing tradition for AST~208 students to visit the \href{http://www.pa.msu.edu/astro/observ/}{MSU Observatory} for hands-on observing experience, and the redesigned AST~208 continues to uphold this tradition. Students come out to the observatory in their lab groups of 3--4 (at night, outside of scheduled class time) and use the CCD camera to obtain science-ready images with the help of an instructor. Every student is required to visit the observatory at least once throughout the semester. A goal is to increase student access to the Observatory (due to limitations of East Lansing weather in the spring semester and the relatively large class size, it proves an ongoing challenge for students to complete multiple labs at the observatory).