Talk

How Students Explore Space With Slooh's Online Telescope & Our Standards-Aligned Learning Activities

Talk
Teaching astronomy as part of other subjects in secondary schools – astronomy as a “gateway science”
4th Shaw-IAU Workshop
Wednesday Nov. 16, 2022
UTC: 8 p.m. - 8:10 p.m. America/New_York: 3 p.m.- 3:10 p.m.
Thursday Nov. 17, 2022
UTC: 10 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. America/New_York: 5 a.m.- 5:10 a.m.

We have created a scalable way for an unlimited number of students to explore space with online telescopes at premier observatories in the Canary Islands and Chile. Our opportunity lies at the intersection of digital education and the new space age that is inspiring educators to look for ways to incorporate space exploration into the curriculum. Astronomy is a gateway science that inspires students to learn scientific reasoning. With our hands-on, standards-aligned, experiential learning activities, Slooh takes students beyond simulation to collect and analyze their own data as they master a new, real-world domain. Before Slooh, only science educators with a passion for astronomy could bring space into the classroom. Now any educator can do it!

About John Boisvert

John H. Boisvert is the Director of Curriculum at Slooh's Online Telescope. At Slooh, he develops curriculum-aligned astronomy lesson activities that use Slooh's online telescope arsenal located on the Canary Islands and Chile. He previously completed his master's in physics and doctrate in astronomy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research interest includes radial velocity techniques for measuring both exoplanetary systems and galaxy dynamics. His educational interests include teaching methods for combining STEAM and astronomy using robotic telescopes from late-primary schools through college.

Watch a recording of this talk (external link)