Promoting STEM in primary schools the case of Supernovas Space Education Program in Central America.

Paper number

IAC-18,E1,1,3,x44141

Author

Mr. Luis Monge, Costa Rica, Central American Association for Aeronautics and Space (ACAE)

Coauthor

Mr. Carlos Alvarado Briceño, Costa Rica, Central American Association for Aeronautics and Space (ACAE)

Coauthor

Ms. Mariela Rojas Quesada, Costa Rica, Universidad de Costa Rica

Year

2018

Abstract

The Central America Association for Aeronautics and Space ACAE promotes research and development projects in space-related technology to orient future generations towards science and technology development. The Supernovas Education Program, is a modular education experience for primary school children developed together by ACAE and American Education Program AEP, and initially launched in Costa Rica and Honduras.
In this program children familiarize themselves with basic space concepts from a multidisciplinary, system focused approach. Space knowledge far from being a goal itself, seeks to be a pretext to learn about the interaction of scientific knowledge and technology, how from this interaction engineering principles emerge, and finally how all these disciplines share the common language of mathematics. 
Trough each of the programs modules children develop a grasp of Space science and learn engineering concepts. The program is hands-on in which means children learn by doing. At each session after a quick multimedia theoretical briefing, the children proceed to the develop the sessions a “space mission” in which they develop an experiment that illustrates principles related to topics ranging from astronomy and physics to basic robotics and rocketry.
Learning trough exploration is at the core of Supernova philosophy, taking advantage of Space as humanity’s final frontier to appeal to the explorer in every child, to introduce them through creativity and innovation into the world of science and technology.

Abstract document

IAC-18,E1,1,3,x44141.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-18,E1,1,3,x44141.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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