  Educational technology has attained significant importance as a mechanism for
supporting experiential learning of science concepts. However, the growth of
this mechanism is limited by the significant time and technical expertise
needed to develop such products, particularly in specialized fields of science.
We sought to test whether interactive, educational, online software modules can
be developed effectively by students as a curriculum component of an advanced
science course. We discuss a set of fifteen such modules developed by Harvard
University graduate students to demonstrate various concepts related to
astronomy and physics. Their successful development of these modules
demonstrates that online software tools for education and outreach on
specialized topics can be produced while simultaneously fulfilling
project-based learning objectives. We describe a set of technologies suitable
for module development and present in detail four examples of modules developed
by the students. We offer recommendations for incorporating educational
software development within a graduate curriculum and conclude by discussing
the relevance of this novel approach to new online learning environments like
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