Dark Skies and Biodiversity

It’s surprising how few people have ever seen a truly dark sky. Those living in large towns and cities can only see the glow of artificial light is visible overhead as a yellow hue. On a clear night in Ireland under a dark sky, you can see over 4,000 twinkling stars, planets such as Venus or Jupiter and even meteor showers and all with the unaided eye. This TeachNet course from ESERO Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland’s Curious Minds, will explore how Dark Skies can be used as a theme to engage pupils in developing STEM skills, help them identify planets and stars, understand the moon, light pollution and climate problems that directly affect their community and identify possible solutions…

Technical Requirements

All our courses require broadband Internet access and participants need to be familiar with using the internet, downloading and installing software.

Course Objectives

• Highlight how Dark Skies can be used as a theme to engage pupils in developing STEM skills.
• Promote STEM Education which is a key priority in Primary education as highlighted in the STEM Education Policy Statement.
• Enhance teacher confidence in teaching STEM through inquiry through the use of the Curious Minds/ESERO Framework for Inquiry.
• Introduce teachers to creative ways of developing STEM skills such as collaboration, skilled communication, problem solving, knowledge construction and use of ICT for learning.
• Facilitate reflection and self-assessment activities prompting teachers to consider their use of ICT in their practice, encouraging teachers to contrast how often technology is used as a teaching aid against how often it is used by students to support their own learning and the development of their STEM skills.
• Equip participants with the knowledge and skills to use and learn about a variety of tools to support teaching, learning and assessment activities.
• Provide participants with the opportunity to connect with other educators and expand their own professional learning networks. The sessions are designed to be interactive with activities and tasks that encourage collaboration incorporated throughout.
• Highlight the importance of whole school planning for STEM through the SSE process and how the Curious Minds’ Awards can facilitate a school wide approach to STEM.

Cost of the course is €25.  Click here to register