SCIENCE IN SPACE
Program Features
Science in Space
A Telescope Discovery & Design Challenge
Science in Space: How to Telescope is an informal science learning program in which students ages 10-14 of under-represented genders in STEM build telescopes in Minecraft. Science in Space is designed to mitigate girls' attrition from STEM by fostering a sense of belonging and community, thus increasing student engagement and confidence in using STEM to tackle real-world problems. The program is inquiry-based and student driven; students ultimately decide which astronomical phenomena they’d like to study and design a telescope to do so.This program is provided for free courtesy of McGill Physics & the Trottier Space Institute with support from Dell Technologies/Girls Who Game. Please email any feedback or questions to scienceinspace@physics.mcgill.ca.
ABOUT
Hands-on Science
Over the course of 10 weeks, students will build their own telescopes in a virtual Minecraft: Education Edition world. In the first half of the program, facilitators and mentors deliver the basics of astronomy through game-based activities, giving the students the foundation they need to tackle the design of the telescope in the second half. Through this program, students gain familiarity with observational astronomy, develop collaborative project design skills, and gain a sense of community in STEM.
Structure
Weeks 1-3
Context
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Intro to astronomy & telescopes
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Mini Minecraft challenges
Weeks 4 - 8
Designing and Building
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Telescope design
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Build in Minecraft!
Weeks 9 - 10
Refinement and Presentation
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Peer feedback
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Final showcase
