Discovering our Place in the Universe

An Information Evening in Donegal Education Centre

Professor Mark Bailey and Libby McKearney, Armagh Observatory

Welcome!

We would like to acknowledge the support and guidance of Sally and her Team at Donegal Education Centre, the group of teachers* who helped us plan this course and Ann Fitzpatrick at ESERO/DSE who have supplied the funding for which we are most grateful.

*Jacqui Dillon, Brendan O’Donoghue, Robert Mullally, Niall Havlin, Susan Kenny, Rosaleen Grant.

Establishing the Need and Identifying TY School Activities

The course has the potential to contribute to DSE's principal objective to attract more young people into science, and for them to become more scientifically literate, in thought, decision-making and action. Moreover, TY coordinators are always looking for fresh ideas for their students, and astronomy is a topic that has caught the public imagination. Astronomy provides many opportunities for innovative cross-cutting TY activities as well as for developing specific skills in subjects such as Mathematics, ICT, English, Art, Music, Geography etc.

One of the aims of providing these TY teacher training workshops is to help non-scientist teachers especially to overcome their fear of science (and of astronomy in particular), empowering them to introduce STEM topics into their own specialisms with enthusiasm and much greater confidence. By this means it is hoped that the TY teachers will be able to create more inspirational science lessons, provide a greater focus on STEM within the TY year, and contribute to increased science literacy throughout the community.

The goal is to open young people’s eyes to the fascination of science and its impact on society, using astronomy as a tool to inspire and develop greater scientific knowledge and understanding. During Transition Year, students can use elements of astronomy to build on their own individual learning interests, and develop greater understanding of the underlying methodology of STEM; the principles underlying the scientific method; and the role of science in modern culture and its historical development over hundreds of years. In this way, TY students will become more aware of STEM and be provided with improved understanding of science, essential for them as future Irish citizens to assess the complex moral and ethical questions that are increasingly thrown up by recent advances in science and STEM-based industries.

Course DetailsThis will be a two-and-a-half day course:

Day 1: Tuesday 25th September 9:30am to 3:15pm in Donegal Education Centre

Following a short break, part two will be held in the historic Armagh Observatory:

Friday 5th October – Travel to Armagh Observatory, following morning tea (~11am) the course resumes for day two. Check-in at Armagh City Hotel, then dinner that evening is followed by some observing – if clear!

Saturday 6th October – Morning Planetarium show and completion of course by 3:00pm approx. – return to Donegal or free time to discover Armagh City.

Main Learning Objective:To provide these 16 TY Teachers/Co-

ordinators with sufficient knowledge of astronomy and related sciences to give them the confidence and skills to introduce some aspects of astronomy to their TY students.

A new TY module on Astronomy.

5 Suggested Core Themes (back in the classroom)

1. The Moon: Phases, physical properties; tides (very relevant in costal parts of Donegal); physical and cultural relationships with the Earth; craters and cratering history; eclipses; space travel etc.

Task: Observing, e.g. with binoculars, and complete an observing sheet over a month.

2. Constellations: Use astrological star sign as a hook; constellation identification; origin and history; myths and legends; observing the night sky; identify stars of different types, names and colours; investigate available astronomical resources and how to find them.

Task: Observing, drawing, make up new constellation patterns and associated stories, compare with constellations in other countries to encourage global awareness.

3. Solar system: The Sun as part of the Solar System; eclipses and effects on Earth; planets, dwarf planets and other members of the Solar System (asteroids, comets etc.). What are these? Distances, scales, extent, history of mankind’s developing thought on our place in the Universe.

4. Sun, Stars and Galaxies: Sun as a star; formation and origin of stars, composition etc.; exo-planetary systems; other stars (single, binary etc.); star clusters; galaxies; galaxy clusters etc.; and the Universe (cosmology and new ideas).

5. Research and Presentations: Students presenting the knowledge gained to peers and possibly to feeder primary school children in future.

 

A possible project!

Almost finished!

End of this presentation!

Thank you for coming to listen!

9:15am            Registration and tea/coffee on arrival  9:30am          Welcome, introduction and housekeeping  9:35am          EU-UNAWE introduction, background and ideals  9:45am          Using materials to teach astronomy, lessons and the science behind each:Fitting Space into school!Earth, Moon and SunRelationships between the above and effects 11:00am          Tea/coffee break 11:15am          Continue as before break with: Our Solar System Distance and scale Our place in the Universe  1:00pm Lunch  1:30pm           Professor Mark Bailey, Director of Armagh Observatory: “Earth’s Place in Space; Bringing “Heaven” Down to Earth”.  1:55pm Continue with course material: Observing & inspiring interest Website familiarization and finding good sources of information   2:50pm           Evaluation, discussion on matching content to Curriculum and feedback

  3:15pm End of course

This is the Primary Teachers’ Course

Learning IntentionsToday we are going to learn about:

An introduction to the principal features of the solar system

Earth’s place in the wider Universe

Gain some understanding of scale and of relative sizes and distances in the Solar System

How we can better use our local astronomical facilities (e.g. Armagh Observatory and Planetarium)

How we can incorporate all this into our Curriculum