Space Education to Intellectual Disability People
- Paper number
IAC-08.E1.4.10
- Author
Mr. Amalio Monzón, LEEM, Spain
- Coauthor
Ms. Natalia Monzón, Magdalene Foundation, Spain
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Space Education is an effective way to approximate science to the society, collaborating in the development of its human capital. An example of it is the numerous international and local initiatives carried out by organizations and institutions, with a double aim, inspirit the new generation of scientifics and engineers, and concern Society about the key role of aerospace advance in the welfare of citizens. These initiatives are focused mainly, in formal education: primary, secondary and universitary. The interest which space motivates, helps to the increase people’s knowledges concerning its environment, the improvement of the interaction with it, and the development of analytic and logic abilities. These benefits are not limited to groups within formal education. Due to this they can be used in non traditional areas, such as intellectual disability people. Therefore, if we wonder why using space education as a subject for this group, we can mention several reasons: the newness which means use this thematic for these people, the utility of space education as an educative tool in learning new concepts, or the development of cognitive abilities. However, in a context of equal opportunities and social responsibility the right question is: “Why not?” Being the aim to make good use of the benefits of space education, Laboratory for Space and Microgravity Research (LEEM) and Magdalene Foundation have developed an educative workshop adapted to an intellectual disability group. LEEM members (association whose principal objective is to motivate and support students to develop space related projects), contribute with the background in different space educational programs in which they have participated, meanwhile Magdalene Foundation (with 28 years of dedication to the care, support and integration of intellectual disability people), provides the means and the professionals in this matter. During the workshop, a group of professionals from Magdalene Foundation has been taught in space science, and it has been done an adaptation of common materials used in formal education to the cognitive level of the trainees. As well specialized psychologists have taken part, performing different evaluations and interviews to the trainees, making possible the measurement and valuation of this workshop benefits in the participants. The results show a positive repercussion in different dimensions surrounding the person as well as in several personal quality of life indicators.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.E1.4.10.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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