Space Educators Institute 2020 Virtual Conference
The Space Educators Institute is a 3-day conference focused on providing training in space themed resources for formal and informal educators from across Canada. The Space Educators Institute aims to create a national learning ecosystem that unites educators across Canada. Our vision is that the space community can support a strong science culture in Canada, through a networked learning ecosystem that could empower anyone to be a 21st century learner and global problem solver, and help accelerate innovation, productivity, inclusion and entrepreneurship. After a successful pilot in 2019, we are proud to announce the Space Educators Institute 2020 will be offered virtually and will run August 5 to 7, 2020.
Event Details:
Date: August 5-7, 2020
Time: 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. EDT
Cost: FREE, however, there are limited spots!
Location: Offered virtually through Zoom
Registration:
Registration is now closed.
Social Media: Follow us on @westernuSpace on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates! Post on social media with hashtag #SpaceEd20 and tag us at @westernuSpace.
Schedule:
Keynote Speakers:
| August 5, 2020 | |
|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. - 12:15 p.m. | Opening Remarks and Land Acknowledgement Dr. Gordon Osinski, Institute for Earth and Space Exploration, Western University |
| 12:15 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
KeynoteEarth Observation Satellites Through this presentation, Taryn Tomlinson will offer an overview of how Earth observation satellites provide daily benefits to Canadians. She will also present educators with games and activities available on the Canadian Space Agency website that could be used to approach this subject in class. |
| 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. |
Parallel SessionsExploring Introductory Astronomy: Stellar Evolution & Black Holes Astronomy is one of the most fascinating topics in all of science. In this workshop, we will explore stars, stellar evolution, and black holes with engaging online activities. We will also discuss how the Event Horizon Telescope took the first image of a black hole, M87*. Teachers can use these activities in their science classrooms or adapt them for students to do virtually at home. (GRADE LEVEL: High school). Scratch in Space - Coding the Solar System Get ready for a fun, interactive coding workshop! In this introduction to Scratch coding, you will gain experience creating and coding your own solar system. We will discuss wider curriculum connections to bring coding into your classroom, with tips and tricks for teaching coding in a virtual setting. (GRADE LEVEL: All grades) Educators will be using Scratch coding during the session. Participants will require access to a computer/laptop with internet access. Optional: If you wish to save your code, you can create a profile at https://scratch.mit.edu/ |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
Parallel SessionsAstronomical Origins of Everyday Things You probably know that a year is one orbit of the Earth around the Sun. But did you know that months and even the days of the week also connect to objects in the sky? Many concepts we use everyday have their origins in astronomy. From the calendar to clock faces, we will explore the relationship between the Sun, Moon, Earth and stars and find some surprising connections between these relationships and everyday life. (GRADE LEVEL: Junior grades) Remote Sensing and Satellites 101 Remote Sensing: Remote sensing refers to the use of satellites to gather information on distant planetary bodies. In this activity, students will use remote sensing techniques to develop an elevation map of an unknown surface feature hidden inside a shoebox. This is comparable to how satellites map surfaces of planets that have thick atmospheres, such as Venus. We will also explore options for the activity online using various softwares and websites. Satellites 101: Above you now thousands of human-made satellites are orbiting Earth, but what are they for? This introductory lesson highlights different satellite applications and how they affect us in everyday life. Students will get a taste of using satellite imagery to detect changes in the environment. This activity will open discussions linking other disciplines of study, such as geography and environmental sciences. (ALL GRADES) |
| 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Sharing and Networking |
| August 6, 2020 | |
|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
KeynoteThe Excitement of Space Exploration: from Sailing Spacecraft on Light, to Engaging Your Students with Easy Night Sky Astronomy Space is exciting, inspiring, and educational for all ages. From sailing the LightSail 2 spacecraft on light, to easy things to see in the night sky, Dr. Betts will share with you the excitement of space exploration. He’ll give information and show stunning images from The Planetary Society’s ongoing LightSail 2 spacecraft mission, the first small (loaf of bread sized) spacecraft to demonstrate controlled solar sailing. He’ll also provide tips and resources to help you share with your students the joy of finding things in the night sky. |
| 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. |
Parallel SessionsMeasure the Earth with your Students Over 2000 years ago, Eratosthenes found an ingenious way to measure the circumference of the Earth with amazing accuracy. This experiment is a multidisciplinary project which shows the power of ingenuity to solve problems. It combines concepts in math, geography and astronomy and allows students to make an amazingly accurate measurement of the Earth – something they probably never thought they could do! We’ll show you how to do this project with your students and maybe even collaborate with schools around the world. (GRADE LEVEL: High school). Space, Time, and Geography: A tour of Can Geo Education's resources for K-12 teachers Dr. Michelle Chaput, Director of Education, Canadian Geographic Education & Justine Bohn, Education Program Coordinator, Canadian Geographic Education Have you heard about Canadian Geographic Education's free 11 x 8 metre Canada From Space Giant Floor Map for schools? Its accompanying teacher's guide and student materials make for an out-of-this-world group learning experience! This session will explore the ins and outs of our Giant Floor Map program, as well as our many interactive websites and curriculum-related materials that support in-class and e-learning for K-12 students. We'll also share our favourite tips and tricks on how to include more technology and immersive learning experiences in your lessons. (GRADE LEVEL: All grades). This session will use Google Expeditions app. You can download the Google Expeditions app (from the Apple Store or from Google Play) onto their phone or tablet. |
| 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
Parallel SessionsExplore the Solar System with Open Source Data Wondered how to access current mission data of Mars, Moon, or the solar system to incorporate while you teach about space in the classroom? This workshop will introduce educators to available data resources and provide a tutorial on visualizing data. This content can be utilized by teachers when introducing space themed content in your classrooms or on projects! (GRADE LEVEL: Middle school to high school) This session will use Google Earth Pro and it is recommended to have it downloaded. The session will also explore JMars (https://jmars.asu.edu/) but downloading is optional.Multicultural Astronomy Dr. Chandra will show some computer simulations of celestial movements throughout the world. From a software on her computer, she will cite and describe some stories about the sun and the moon from around the world and provide some links on multicultural astronomy for educators to explore. She will also, discuss what they need to keep in mind when introducing multicultural astronomy.(GRADE LEVEL: K-6) |
| 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Indigenous astronomies, stories of the sky and learning about the Universe Indigenous peoples have lived on this land since time immemorial and every nation and community has a sophisticated understanding of astronomy and the night sky that is not reflected in traditional western education. Much of that knowledge comes in the form of stories that connect phenomena in the sky with nature and the land below. In this discussion, I will share some stories from the Mi’kmaw people and show how these stories teach us about astronomy. I will also discuss some differences between how many Indigenous peoples approach science and how science in approached in the western tradition. I will conclude with a discussion of the concept of Two-Eyed Seeing for astronomy that aims to use both western traditional methods and Indigenous methods together to create greater understanding of the Universe and our place in it. (GRADE LEVEL: All grades) |
| August 7, 2020 | |
|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. |
KeynoteStrange New Worlds: Is Earth Special? Astronomers have discovered well over 4000 exoplanets, alien worlds orbiting alien stars. These planets orbit a wide variety of stars, and themselves are all wildly different; huge, small, hot, cold, airless, or with thick atmospheres. As we learn more about them, we come closer to answering the Big Questions: Is there another Earth out there? And if so, will it support life? Is Earth unique, or is the galaxy filled with blue-green worlds that look achingly like our own? In this engaging and fun talk, astronomer Phil Plait will show you how we find these planets, and how our own compares to them. |
| 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. |
Parallel SessionsBringing the James Webb Space Telescope Into Your Classroom The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is the successor of the famous Hubble Space Telescope. JWST, a 6.5m infrared telescope, is without a doubt one of the most complex machines ever built by humanity and will give us the capacity to see farther than ever in our Universe, peer through the cosmic dust sprinkled throughout galaxies and discover and study new alien worlds. Not only is this astronomical marvel just around the corner, but Canada is an essential part of the mission! Learn how the Webb Telescope will shape the next decade and beyond of science and how you can incorporate its mission and the wonders it will unveil in your classroom. (GRADE LEVEL: High school, adaptable for elementary) This session will be using Kahoot! during our session. Participants will not need an account, but they can familiarise themselves with the platform here: https://kahoot.it/.Impact Earth and Impact Cratering Throughout the history of Earth, the evolution of life and the planet has coincided with and been punctuated by impacts from meteorites. The mission to collect and categorize information about Earth impacts has been spearheaded by Canadians as far back as 1946 when Carlyle Smith Beals, a Canadian astronomer, began a study of meteorite impact craters in the Canadian shield. This tradition is carried on today at Western University with the development of the Impact Earth database, a modern and comprehensive database of all confirmed impacts on Earth. Craters are seen on every rocky body in the solar system but understanding their characteristics and how they form continues to be a challenging task for planetary scientists. This activity focuses on answering some of those questions using an inquiry style activity. (GRADE LEVEL: All grades) |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. |
To Burp or Not to Burp? Using Questions to Teach Space Dr. Dave Williams, President and CEO, Exploration Incorporated and Loredana Cunti, Author and Executive Producer Description coming soon! |
| 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
Closing Remarks |
