SPACE PROJECTS SUPPORTING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION

摘要

As is the case in many countries, there is a strong decline in the involvement of young Europeans in science and technology. A decreasing number of students in these studies or vocational training becomes a major threat for a science and technology-driven economic growth in the EU.rnThe European Space Agency (ESA) cannot solve this problem alone but, as space is an area of science that captures young people's imagination, it can support the European efforts. ESA is thus engaging to enhance the scientific and technological literacy of Young Europeans, aged 6-28. As young people have their primary encounters with sciences in schools, one major aim of the ESA Education Department is to reach and cooperate with teachers in primary and secondary education. Teachers are multipliers to attract youngsters for sciences, because they can reach most young Europeans and motivate them. Therefore teachers are the main target group of the activities presented here.rnOur activities use space projects to provide support to teachers and give them tools, which have been developed with teachers, fitted to their curricula, and should help to increase the motivation of pupils. They cover all disciplines, including the non-scientific ones, and are multi-lingual. The projects include web sites, support to courses, exercises, games or training sessions.