Espacial.com: Analysis of a long-term web-based space educational experience
- Paper number
IAC-06-E1.3.08
- Author
Dr. Antoni Pérez-Poch, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain
- Coauthor
Mr. Roberto Solans, Argentina
- Year
2006
- Abstract
On-line communities are a focus of research in recent years. We analyse a long-term space educational outreach experience in terms of audience, impact in the space community and satisfaction of their contributors.
Espacial.com is on-line since 1997 and it provides news and opinion comments on space-related matters in Spanish. It is the oldest, and most widely known web-based space community of readers in the interne, including daily updates. It is the only one that has broadcasted live and on-line the main space events of the last decade to a Spanish-language audience. The project is an educational one with a strong leadership from a NASA astronaut of Spanish origins, Fernando (Frank) Caldeiro, who regularly visits the on-line forum.(This project is not endorsed by NASA or any agency of the United States of America Government in any manner or form. Mr. Caldeiro’s contribution is only available during his own personal time). He contributes as a member of the web-based space enthusiasts community with his expertise, comments and advice to the visitors. Registration is required to take part in the discussions and become a member of the community and there are no monetary fees associated with consulting or interacting in this project. This is a purely educational project with a no-benefits policy or economic gain.
Espacial.com has become a reference in Spanish language as an on-line outreach educational provider throughout the years. Different phases can be differentiated along its presence on-line. Editions including areas only available by subscription, cooperative contributions and moderated forums have appeared until today. Results of an evaluation questionnaire answered by our audience are given, and compared to a previous one which was handled two years ago. Audience results are also given, which sustain the success of this project, of nearly a decade of existence in the internet. We discuss which of a number of factors are key to the long life of this website, among them: A strong leadership, fast interactive answers and the creation of a friendship environment in which answering is encouraged and positively reinforced. Cooperative learning is an educational technique that has shown to be useful in order to retain and make this community grow.
Important lessons arise from this experience, including the importance of a strong leadership and creating a sense of community as key factors that contribute to the success of long-term outreach educational programmes.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-E1.3.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.