Astronomy workshop
Watching the night sky has always been captivating for human beings, inspiring myths about the origin of the stars. In the last 50 years, humans have begun to explore the universe, whereas the colonization of adjacent planets seems a realistic goal. So, STEM Education develops a workshop, that students work as explorers in a new celestial body, where a new mission landed recently.
Students work in groups, participating in different exploration experiments. Using the proper sensor, students make measurements, like measuring the temperature, humidity, light level, noise, or earthquake tremors, and send the data remotely, to process in the headquarters. There, they analyze data, to make inferences. At the same time, each group trains, with certain exercises, to strengthen their physical condition. Their biometrics will also be sent to the headquarters, to assign each astronaut with the proper role.
The activities are done with the BBC micro:bit microcontroller and sensors applied to it.
Students, apart from the measurements, will be asked to process data, interpret them and extract conclusions. Regarding the colonization of the planet, students will make arguments, based on the data they collected before.
A breathtaking adventure on a new celestial body is about to begin! Humans have a lot to learn if only they are careful!
Objectives of the workshop
After the workshop, students will be able to:
– Describe how the BBC micro:bit microcontroller works and how it is programmed,
– Connect the microcontroller with a second one, the “headquarters”, through Bluetooth
connection,
– Connect the proper sensor and program it properly, to make measurements,
– Process and interpret the data they sent,
– Make inferences, based on the previous analysis,
– Take decisions to colonize the new celestial body, based on the previous analysis and the scientific knowledge they gained.
Program Information
Students of Higher Elementary School and Middle School are eligible for the workshop.
The level of difficulty depends on the needs of the participant students.