Shaw-IAU Workshops by the OAE

Teachers are the gatekeepers of access to students and also direct activity undertaken by students in the classroom. If we are to embed this technology into schools beyond the gifted and talented, we need to address the needs of everyday teachers. These needs are amplified for schools in poorer, rural and underserved communities. In this talk, research on the needs and blocking factors identified by teachers for robotic telescopes usage are outlined and some examples of how to address these needs are identified. This talk is particularly suited to projects attempting to engage multiple schools.

About Michael Fitzgerald

Michael is a Senior Research Fellow in the School of Education. His
research interests encompass STEM education, with a particular
focus on astronomy education, as well as pure astronomy research.
He has a particular interest in encouraging the use of remotely
accessible telescopes to support authentic research and educational
activities in the classroom as well as professional learning for high
school teachers. He holds many leadership roles in astronomy
education worldwide, including being the current Secretary of the
International Astronomical Union’s Commission C1 for Education
and Development.

Watch a recording of this talk (external link)