ISEB
International Space Education Board
Using Technology in the Classroom
Saturday September 27th 2014
(Closing date for applications: Fri 12th September.)
Each year the organisations above offer a workshop for educators in conjunction with the International Astronautical Congress.
The aim of this year’s program is to highlight the importance of effective use of technology in the classroom and to emphasise what
can be achieved in delivering engaging educational programs when educational intuitions work in partnership with industry and the
wider scientific community.
During this day you will be introduced to the latest pedagogical research on effective instructional strategies. You will experience the
use of using technology in the classroom ranging from serious games to the use of a world class radio telescope. You will take
control of the Parkes Radio Telescope!
The program begins with a keynote address by Dr. Matt Kuhn of Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) on
“Using Technology in the Classroom”. McREL International is a nonprofit, nonpartisan education research and development
corporation that was founded to turn knowledge about what works in education into practical guidance for educators and school
leaders.
The second session presents the “PULSE@Parkes” program, which will use the Parkes Radio Telescope in real time. This program is a
prime example of using accessible technology to bring cutting edge scientific research into the classroom. You will not only use and
control one of Australia’s most famous scientific instruments, but the data you collect will contribute to real scientific research.
The third session and fourth sessions investigates the effective use of serious games in the classroom. It will demonstrate
techniques to integrate game based learning in an effective lesson.
You will fly a spaceship from star to star gathering data. You will learn how a plot of this data sheds light on the life cycle of stars.
You will form a team to take control of a rover on the surface of Mars. You will drive VSSEC’s Mars rover and see how you can use
scenario-based learning to engage your students. Toronto’s MakerKids will introduce you to Minecraft in the classroom.
Participants in the workshop will prepare for the day by undertaking an introductory exercise to famliarise themselves with the
analysis of data from Parkes. They will use data collected by Australian high school students during previous sessions of
PULSE@Parkes.
Saturday September 27th 2014
9 am—4:30 pm
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Toronto, Canada
Cost: FREE
Maximum no. of participants: 40
IAF/ISEB Professional Development Program, Toronto, Canada
Teacher Professional Learning Program
8:30-9:00 am
Registration
9:00-9:15 am
Introduction/Icebreaker
9:15-10:15 am
Keynote Address:
Dr. Matt Kuhn is an Instructional Technologist at McREL International, which has an office in Melbourne.
Dr. Kuhn is co-author of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction That Works (ASCD, 2007 & 2012),
and a Google Certified Teacher. Dr Kuhn works with schools and school networks to improve STEM
instruction, and he conducts professional development in technology integration, technology leadership,
classroom observation protocols, and curricular design and pedagogy in mathematics and science. Prior to
joining McREL, Dr Kuhn was a secondary science and maths teacher and a school principal. He has a
bachelor's degree in aircraft engineering technology from Embry-Riddle University, a master’s in
secondary science education from the University of Denver, and a doctorate in educational technology
administration from the University of Denver.
10:15-10:30 am
Morning Tea
10:30-1:00 pm
PULSE@Parkes:
PULSE@Parkes is an innovative project that provides high school students with the opportunity to control
the famous Parkes radio telescope. Students observe pulsars under the guidance of professional
astronomers.
Ian Christie is VSSEC’s Curriculum Developer and Outreach Coordinator.
Robert Hollow is an Education Officer for CSIRO's Astronomy and Space Science (CASS). He develops
educational programs and materials to support students, teachers and the public in their understanding
of astronomy. Part of his job is to write online educational resources in astronomy and in particular the
radio astronomy and other work carried out by CASS. He also runs the highly innovative PULSE@Parkes
program for high school students in Australia.
Dr. George Hobbs is a research scientist at the CSIRO Astronomy and Space Sciences supported by an
Australian Research Council QEII Fellowship.
1:00-1:40pm
Lunch
1:40- 2:40 pm
Small Workshops Session A
Participants will take part in two of the three workshops over two sessions.
Serious Games: Star Search
One of ESA’s most ambitious projects is to compile the most precise map of the stars in our Galaxy.
Missions like Hipparcos and Gaia have given scientists invaluable data.
Star Search is an educational game designed by VSSEC using Hipparcos data to enable players to classify
stars. Players select a spaceship, plan a journey, and fly to distant stars where they collect interesting
‘star’ data. The program encourages players to think and work scientifically. During this workshop,
participants will use the data collected to create an interactive Hertzsprung - Russell diagram using a
graphic organiser and foldables.
Robotic Mission to Mars: An Online Scenario Based Educational Program
Participants will form a team which will control the VSSEC Mars rover. They will see how students
undertake on-line site selection and pre-mission training before selecting roles as scientists and engineers
in Mission Control from where they control a Rover on the surface of Mars. Students select the most
appropriate exploration route and compare the scientific value of the sites visited against the energy
budget and available time. This mission can be accessed remotely via the internet.
MakerKids: Using Minecraft in the Classroom
Minecraft provides a unique platform for learning. MinecraftEd is used by teachers worldwide. QCraft is
used by VSSEC in a year 10 study unit on Quantum Computing. Let the team from Toronto’s MakerKids
introduce you to the educational possibilities of this great game.
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Small Workshops Session B
4:00pm
Finish.
ISEB
International Space Education Board
Using Technology in the Classroom
Saturday September 27th 2014
Application Form (Closing date: Fri 12th Sept.)
Complete the details below and then email this page to
ian.christie@vssec.vic.edu.au
You will receive an email in reply which will include instructions and links to complete a preparatory exercise. This exercise will
familiarise you with the analysis of data from the Parkes Radio Telescope. This is the same exercise as presented to high school
students taking part in the PULSE@Parkes Program.
Name:
Address:
Email:
Phone:
School Name:
Position:
Dietary requirements if applicable:
Return to: ian.christie@vssec.vic.edu.au
before Friday 12th September 2014