EUDOXOS PROJECT Teaching Science with a Robotic Telescope eLearning initiative European Commission nº /001 Laboratory for the Analysis of the Educational Change (L.A.C.E.) Faculty of Education, University of Cadiz, Spain

EUDOXOS PROJECT e-learning initiative funded by the EC Action Preparatory and innovative actions E-learning Action Plan duration 18 months The participating partners are from Greece, Spain, Italy and Austria: -NCSR Demokritos - Ellinogermaniki Agogi - University of Athens - University of Cadiz - Management Center Innsburk - Four different and idiosyncratic schools from each country

Use the possibillities that NewTechnologies and the Internet offer to improve the quality of the education process (e-learning concept) To transform the classroom into a research laboratory, to break down the traditional boundary between the classroom, home and scientific laboratories as different learning environments.

Our objective is to develop a framework to teach science to High School students through a multidisciplinary approach. How? Providing a platform: a web based User Interface allows anyone with Internet access to use the Eudoxos Robotic Telescope 'Andreas Michalitsianos' (AM), in Kefallinia island, Greece. Students from different European countries working, learning and collaborating together, widen their knowledge.

The idea is to introduce new technologies and innovative ways of learning into educational process: students can use this e-learning tool in a real time, hands-on, interactive environment breaking down time and space barriers. Students from Europe can access to a new sources of information to which they do not have access in their immediate surroundings. New ways of networking cooperating and exchanging experiences, ideas and feelings.

The development of new learning tools and educational environments, within a pedagogical framework that will allow successful application of the advanced technology in science teaching offering a framework that is completely adaptable to schools which are different, individual and idiosyncratic. The enhancement of a constructionist approach in science teaching. Students working as scientific and reserches deepening their understanding of scientific methods, technologies and knowledge, and the relationships between these. Collaboration between the students but also between students and teachers. The development of an global and qualitative evaluation to value the whole project.

OBJECTIVES EUDOXOS PEDAGOGICAL APPROACH To enable participants to navigate the NOE Eudoxos Telescopes by applying the electronic tools provided by Internet. To enable participants to make self-directed observations of the sky (Moon, Saturn, Sun, Asteroids). Provide students the possibility of develop knowledge in Astronomy, Physics, Mathematics… To provide participants with first hand experience on involvement in active and collaborative learning online

FRAMEWORK AND LESSON PLANS The implementation of these educational framework included two cycles of school centered-work. - First cycle: an adapted curriculum are developed around a solid educational framework that captures the main learning objectives of the project (observation of the sun, the moon, galaxies, nebulae, etc.), - Second cycle: the students and teachers will have the chance to design and perform their own projects by using the telescope and the interface to compose their direct astronomical observation and their own scientific inquiring strategy.

LESSON´S PLAN To be implemented in classroom during the first two cycles of the school centred work Trying to respect the idiosyncratic and context of each school Each lesson plans consist of two main parts: one gives general information concerning the sky observations, the other part provides information about the pour educational phase of the lesson with ideas to stimulate students for discussion, observation and analysis of data, and exercises and activities to consolidate.

STRUCTURE OF THE LESSON´S PLAN - General information - Duration - Vocabulary - Tools and materials - Aims and Objectives - Student´s Misconceptions -Educational Phase - Stimulation - Experimental Activities - Observation – Discussion - Consolidation

Evaluation Process Evaluation processes are converted into research processes in the classroom to understand the complex The evaluation strategies and tools that we propose match the characteristics required by global, qualitative evaluation Teachers and students must be involved. They are the most appropriate to provide information and evaluate the implementation of the project.

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