Transcript Pres TY Info Eve Meeting DEC 11th Sept 12

Discovering our Place in
the Universe
An Information Evening in Donegal Education Centre
Professor Mark Bailey and Libby McKearney,
Armagh Observatory
Welcome!
 We would like to acknowledge the support and
guidance of Sally and her Team at Donegal Education
Centre, the group of teachers* who helped us plan this
course and Ann Fitzpatrick at ESERO/DSE who have
supplied the funding for which we are most grateful.
 *Jacqui Dillon, Brendan O’Donoghue, Robert Mullally,
Niall Havlin, Susan Kenny, Rosaleen Grant.
Establishing the Need and Identifying TY School Activities
The course has the potential to contribute to DSE's principal objective to
attract more young people into science, and for them to become more
scientifically literate, in thought, decision-making and action. Moreover, TY
coordinators are always looking for fresh ideas for their students, and
astronomy is a topic that has caught the public imagination. Astronomy
provides many opportunities for innovative cross-cutting TY activities as well
as for developing specific skills in subjects such as Mathematics, ICT,
English, Art, Music, Geography etc.
One of the aims of providing these TY teacher training workshops is to help
non-scientist teachers especially to overcome their fear of science (and of
astronomy in particular), empowering them to introduce STEM topics into
their own specialisms with enthusiasm and much greater confidence. By this
means it is hoped that the TY teachers will be able to create more
inspirational science lessons, provide a greater focus on STEM within the TY
year, and contribute to increased science literacy throughout the community.
The goal is to open young people’s eyes to the fascination of
science and its impact on society, using astronomy as a tool
to inspire and develop greater scientific knowledge and
understanding. During Transition Year, students can use
elements of astronomy to build on their own individual
learning interests, and develop greater understanding of the
underlying methodology of STEM; the principles underlying
the scientific method; and the role of science in modern
culture and its historical development over hundreds of
years. In this way, TY students will become more aware of
STEM and be provided with improved understanding of
science, essential for them as future Irish citizens to assess
the complex moral and ethical questions that are increasingly
thrown up by recent advances in science and STEM-based
industries.
Course Details
This will be a two-and-a-half day course:
Day 1: Tuesday 25th September 9:30am to 3:15pm in
Donegal Education Centre
Following a short break, part two will be held in the historic
Armagh Observatory:
Friday 5th October – Travel to Armagh Observatory,
following morning tea (~11am) the course resumes for day two.
Check-in at Armagh City Hotel, then dinner that evening is
followed by some observing – if clear!
Saturday 6th October – Morning Planetarium show and
completion of course by 3:00pm approx. – return to
Donegal or free time to discover Armagh City.
Main Learning Objective:
 To provide these 16 TY Teachers/Co-ordinators
with sufficient knowledge of astronomy and
related sciences to give them the confidence
and skills to introduce some aspects of
astronomy to their TY students.
 A new TY module on Astronomy.
5 Suggested Core Themes (back in the classroom)
 1. The Moon: Phases, physical properties; tides (very
relevant in costal parts of Donegal); physical and cultural
relationships with the Earth; craters and cratering history;
eclipses; space travel etc.
 Task: Observing, e.g. with binoculars, and complete an
observing sheet over a month.
 2. Constellations: Use astrological star sign as a hook;
constellation identification; origin and history; myths and
legends; observing the night sky; identify stars of different
types, names and colours; investigate available astronomical
resources and how to find them.
 Task: Observing, drawing, make up new constellation patterns
and associated stories, compare with constellations in other
countries to encourage global awareness.
 3. Solar system: The Sun as part of the Solar System;
eclipses and effects on Earth; planets, dwarf planets and
other members of the Solar System (asteroids, comets
etc.). What are these? Distances, scales, extent, history
of mankind’s developing thought on our place in the
Universe.
 4. Sun, Stars and Galaxies: Sun as a star; formation
and origin of stars, composition etc.; exo-planetary
systems; other stars (single, binary etc.); star clusters;
galaxies; galaxy clusters etc.; and the Universe
(cosmology and new ideas).
 5. Research and Presentations: Students presenting
the knowledge gained to peers and possibly to feeder
primary school children in future.

A possible project!
Almost finished!
End of this presentation!
Thank you for coming to listen!
This is the Primary Teachers’ Course
9:15am
Registration and tea/coffee on arrival
9:30am
Welcome, introduction and housekeeping
9:35am
EU-UNAWE introduction, background and ideals
9:45am
Using materials to teach astronomy, lessons and the science behind each:
Fitting Space into school!
Earth, Moon and Sun
Relationships between the above and effects
11:00am
Tea/coffee break
11:15am
Continue as before break with:

Our Solar System

Distance and scale

Our place in the Universe
1:00pm
1:30pm
Lunch
Professor Mark Bailey, Director of Armagh Observatory:
“Earth’s Place in Space; Bringing “Heaven” Down to Earth”.
1:55pm
Continue with course material:
 Observing & inspiring interest

Website familiarization and finding good sources of information
2:50pm
Evaluation, discussion on matching content to Curriculum and feedback
3:15pm
End of course
Learning Intentions
Today we are going to learn about:
 An introduction to the principal features of the solar system
 Earth’s place in the wider Universe
 Gain some understanding of scale and of relative sizes and
distances in the Solar System
 How we can better use our local astronomical facilities (e.g.
Armagh Observatory and Planetarium)
 How we can incorporate all this into our Curriculum