A step-by-step methodology to develop teaching materials for science and technology education in secondary schools
- Paper number
IAC-05-E1.2.02
- Author
Ms. Caroline Pujol, PiLDo Labs, Spain
- Year
2005
- Abstract
In the framework of the European Space Agency (ESA) commitment for education, the International Space Station Education Team is developing a complete, structured education programme for (space) science and technology, from primary education up to University level. Together with other education stakeholders, we do take part in a global effort towards raising the youngsters´ interest for science and technology. In particular, using the International Space Station as a platform as well as an attractive topic for education, we develop a series of teaching materials for science and technology classes in European secondary school, our main target group. Over the past years, we have gained a lot of experience in and define a step-by-step methodology for developing curriculum based teaching materials. This experience allows us to be able to answer some crucial questions: 1) Why secondary school students´ interest in space can get them closer to science? Why is it important? 2) Which types of teaching materials do science teachers use in their class? We will present an overview of all teaching materials developed by the ISS Education Team: the ISS Education Kit, the ISS DVD lesson I `Newton in space´, the ISS DVD lesson II `Body Space´, the ISS 3D-Tool (educational game), the interactive ISS kit on the web, etc. 3) How do teachers take part in the development of teaching material? The ISS Education team organises several teachers´ workshops a year covering the different phases of development (preliminary study, draft evaluation, classroom testing, etc.) 4) Is it possible to develop curriculum-based teaching material using space? We will present concrete examples of lesson plans for Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Technology classes using our teaching materials. 5) Which type of information is necessary for the teachers in the teacher´ guide? 6) How can new technologies be used to develop science teaching material? 7) How can the teaching material be promoted and distributed to the end-users: the science teachers and students from European secondary schools? This ISS Education programme for secondary education is currently receiving a very strong positive feedback from the teachers´ community all over Europe, with an increasing number of requests from the teachers and of cooperation from national ministries of education. This clearly confirms both the pedagogical value of our materials and the need for such materials for science education in Europe. It looks like the future generation will be a space generation!
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-E1.2.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.