Experience with Student-Constructed Telescopes for Radio Astronomy

Our group has designed, documented construction and operated Radio Telescopes intend for use by high schools, colleges, hobbyists and other Science Aficionados. We present our experience with college freshmen that built two telescopes during a two-week summer program. The students operated the telescopes, which they named Alexander and Bess. Their experience was mostly successful, and we learned how to improve documents describing construction and operation. We're incorporating lessons learned into revised documentation, published on the web at https://opensourceradiotelescopes.org/wk.