Develop skill to better use space sciences for education

In this page, you can find:

The Space Awareness online course MOOC series. Free and open to anyone, the courses especially target primary and secondary school teachers and science communication professionals interested in developing their skills and use space for education.

Thematic guided lesson plans and support material allow education professionals to follow examples of activities with tips and guidelines.

Assessment tools to supporting student’s effective development, understand their current knowledge and confidence in the topic being taught. Go to Assessment tools.

Register now for the Our Fragile Planet MOOC

Teaching with Space and Astronomy in your Classroom

Online course MOOC 1

Module 1: Why space & space careers?
1 week
Module 2: Working with Inquiry in the science classroom
1 week
Module 3: Use of ICT tools in the science classroom
1 week
Module 4: How to manage diversity in the classroom and gender balance
1 week
Module 5: How to introduce space careers to your students
1 week

Overview

Introduction

Bringing space sciences effectively into European classrooms is an excellent opportunity to address a range of educational challenges such as the lack of STEM graduates, limited interest from girls in STEM topics, as well as challenges linked to diversity in European classrooms. This first MOOC of the Space Awareness series will equip participants with the skills needed to leverage effectively the potential of space sciences to address these challenges.

What you will learn

This MOOC will help participants understand and put into practice the Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) methodology, learn more about using ICT tools in the science classroom, developed teaching strategies to manage diverse classrooms and promote gender balance as well as learning how to communicate to students about space careers and their importance.

What skills will you need

Participants can be beginners in the topics of the course but minimal acquaintance with IBSE, basic ICT skills and notions of gender balance, classroom management and space careers can facilitate their learning progress.

Duration of the course

The course runs on for 6 weeks. The estimated workload is 3 hours per week.
STARTING DATE: Available for enrollment but without certification
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Navigation through the ages

Online course MOOC 2

Introduction: 
1 week
Module 1: Introduction to Navigation Through Ages
1 week
Module 2: The History of Navigation
1 week
Module 3: Navigation through Ages tools and terms
1 week
Module 4: The Galileo´s European Satellite System
1 week

Overview

Introduction

Since early times, Sky Observations have been embedded in culture and played an important role in the way we live, since counting time and space (tracking solar and lunar patterns in the sky) until satellite navigation. In this MOOC you will explore with your students the rich history of navigation, understanding how the sky was used as a map, a clock, a calendar, a painting and a book of stories.

What you will learn

You will identify concepts, tools and terms that are essential on the determination of one’s location and about the basics of how satellite navigation works, its uses and purposes, focusing on Galileo Europe’s navigation satellite system.

What skills will you need

You will need to be proactive, an independent user on ICT tools and acquainted with inquiry based learning to instruct and guide students on their own learning path. Prior knowledge of astronomy is not expected. Interest in learning about navigation is essential!

Duration of the course

The course runs on for 5 weeks.
STARTING DATE: Available for enrollment but without certification
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Guided lesson plans and support documents

Didactic course 1: Tools and Terms for secondary level
2 hours
Didactic course 2: Tools and Terms for primary level
2 hours
Didactic course 3: History of Navigation for secondary level
6 hours
Didactic course 4: History of Navigation for primary level
6 hours

Support documents and lesson plans

Tools and Terms for secondary level

Students perform an activity to identify concepts, tools, and terms, essential for the determination of time. They learn basis of how satellite navigation works and about global navigation satellite systems,
Download the didactic course in PDF.

Download

Tools and Terms for primary level

Students perform an activity to identify concepts, tools, and terms, essential for the determination of time. They learn the basis of how satellite navigation works and about global navigation satellite systems,
Download the didactic course in PDF.

Download

History of Navigation for secondary level

Students start investigating the rich history of navigation and try to understand how the sky was used as a map, clock, calendar, painting and storybook.
Download a zip file containing support presentations and the didactic course.

Download

History of Navigation for primary level

Students investigate the rich history of time and understand how time has been measured through history: by using a sundial, an hourglass, a clock, a calendar etc.
Download a zip file containing support presentations and the didactic course.

Download
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Our fragile planet

Online course MOOC 3

Introduction: 
-
Module 1: Planet Earth
1 week
Module 2: Climate Change - Part 1
1 week
Module 3: Climate Change - Part 2
1 week
Module 4: Climate Monitoring from Space
1 week

Overview

Introduction

‘Our Fragile Planet’ MOOC will take participants through basic notions of our Planet Earth like its structure and atmosphere and then will delve into issues concerning climate change, carbon footprint and raising awareness to our Earth’s fragility.

What you will learn

In this MOOC you will learn how to build inquiry-based activities for your students that focus on topics such as climate change and our Earth. You will be able to guide your students through scientific inquiry by using space and astronomy topics related to Earth and help them develop critical thinking skills and raise their engagement towards space sciences.

What skills will you need

In order to materialize the activities presented in this MOOC you will need to be well acquainted with inquiry based learning in order to be able to instruct and guide students to elicit answers and knowledge on their own. You will also need to have some basic knowledge in the use of ICT tools as well as some organization skills as you will be working with many teams at the same time. Finally you will need plenty of imagination and creativity!

Duration of the course

The course will run for 5.5 weeks with 1 module opening each week and 1.5 grace weeks at the end. The estimated workload is 2-3 hours per week.
STARTING DATE: 4 October 2017
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Guided lesson plans and support documents

Didactic course 1: Planet Earth, Terraforming for primary level
1 hour
Didactic course 2: Planet Earth, My Space Suit for primary level
2 hours
Didactic course 3: Climate Change, the Greenhouse Effect for primary Level
2 hours
Didactic course 4:  The Earth’s atmosphere for secondary level
1 hour

Support documents and lesson plans

Planet Earth, Terraforming for primary level

The activity deals with both extra-terrestrial worlds and our home planet. Children learn that the Earth is the only place in the universe that is suitable for life as we know it up to now.
Download the didactic course in PDF.

Download

Planet Earth, My Space Suit for primary level

Children will design a spacesuit – a special set of clothes wearable out of space, suitable for space conditions, which provides safety conditions for astronauts’ activity.

Download the didactic course in PDF.

Download

Climate Change, the Greenhouse Effect for primary Level

Students will be able to learn about the main cause of climate change, the Greenhouse effect, and how it impacts our Earth. To do so, they will test a series of hypotheses using an experimental activity.
Download the didactic course in PDF.

Download

The Earth’s atmosphere for secondary level

Students learn what is meant by air and what the atmosphere is. They will work in groups to learn more about the composition of the atmosphere, its temperature and air circulation.
Download the didactic course in PDF.

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Our wonderful Universe

Online course MOOC 4

Module 1: Our Solar System
1 week
Module 2: The Sun and the Moon
1 week
Module 3: The Sun-Moon-Earth System
1 week
Module 4: Beyond our solar system
1 week

Overview

Introduction

This MOOC is about exploring our wonderful Universe with our students and introducing to them the numerous astronomical objects. Our journey begins in module 1 from our own little neighborhood, the Solar System, and continues in module 2 with deep space exploration.

What you will learn

In this MOOC you will learn how to build inquiry-based activities for your students that focus on the exploration of the Solar System and that of deep space. The activities build will aim not only to introduce to students astronomical objects but also to them engage in activities that improve their basic skills in mathematics and science as well as critical thinking skills.

What skills will you need

In order to materialize the activities presented in this MOOC you will need to be well acquainted with inquiry based learning in order to be able to instruct and guide students to elicit answers and knowledge on their own. You will also need to have some basic knowledge in the use of ICT tools as well as some organization skills as you will be working with many teams at the same time. Finally you will need plenty of imagination and creativity!

Duration of the course

4 weeks
STARTING DATE: 29 May 2017
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Guided lesson plans and support documents

Didactic course 1: Solar System for primary Level
13 hours
Didactic course 2: Universe Basics for secondary level
14 hours
Didactic course 3: Universe Basics for primary level
11 hours
Didactic course 4: Solar System for secondary level
13 hours

Support documents and lesson plans

Solar System for primary Level

Students stage a play to introduce to the public the planets of our Solar System.
Download a zip file containing the didactic course and additional support material.

Download

Universe Basics for secondary level

Students will design an exhibition to present the wonders of the Universe to their communities.
Download a zip file containing the didactic course and additional support material.

Download

Universe Basics for primary level

Students stage a puppet show called A journey through the Universe to present to the public the wonders of the Universe as well as the importance of collaboration.
Download the didactic course in PDF.

Download

Solar System for secondary level

Students will construct a scale model of the Solar System and enrich their knowledge on the subject.
Download a zip file containing the didactic course and additional support material.

Download
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Assessment tools

Formative assessment tools

3-2-1: A structured approach for students to reflect upon and record their own learning.
Bloom’s taxonomy of question starters : Prompt questions and key words for exploring students’ learning at different levels of thinking
Kahoot: Kahoot is a fun online learning game that works on any device with an internet connection.
Peer feedback: Students give each other feedback about an assignment
Traffic light: A fast diagnostic tool to check students’ confidence in a particular concept/area

Summative assessment tools

"how-to" book: Students create an instruction book to show evidence of learning a skill or process.
Portfolios: A collection of evidence combined with student reflections to demonstrate mastery of a give set of concepts
Perspectives: A way of evidencing application of skills and knowledge in a creative manner.
Projects: A way of evidencing application of skills and knowledge in a creative manner.