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To ignite the passion in children's hearts – Role and effect of space education, issues and consideration

2016; Elsevier BV; Volume: 127; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.actaastro.2016.06.040

1879-2030

Ayami Kojima,

Space exploration and regulation

It is obvious that Space Education is very important for sustainable space development as children are going to lead the new era of space development. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (thereafter called "JAXA") believes that all children hold 3 spirits which are "Curiosity", "Adventure" and "Craftsmanship". We have been trying to ignite children's spirits toward nature, life and the universe with the effective use of space subjects and materials since the establishment of the JAXA Space Education Center in 2005. Studying about space is not limited to STEM, but can be applied to all subjects including social studies, music, and home economics. JAXA successfully coordinates more than 100 school classes in various subjects all over Japan each year. In geography, students learned geographical features of mountain ranges from images taken by JAXA's land observing satellite, while wearing 3D glasses so that they felt as if they were watching it from space. In home economics, students discussed and came up with ideas for new space food menu items considering nutrition and preservability. One of the ideas has been selected as Japanese Space Food. Nowadays, the numbers of school collaborations are stable and cover various subjects. Therefore JAXA cooperated with SHINSEI elementary school as a model school of space education. This elementary school introduced space studies in all grade's education guidelines in this school year. JAXA and SHINSEI elementary school are going to revise and analyze how students have been changed through this effort in March. We also focus on "Teacher Training" by holding JAXA-Teachers seminars all over Japan and more than 1000 teachers take this seminar every year. By studying a questionnaire survey taken from teacher seminars, it has been clarified that most of teachers realized space can be applied not only for astronomy but also in various subjects. They evaluate JAXA's effort for broadening their horizons. However most of teachers do not have enough time for investigating or preparing teaching materials as they have to put lots of effort to club activities held after school and weekends in Japan. It is necessary for JAXA to study and analyze more about present issues in education and to build effective infrastructure to spread space education based on demands. I believe that mysteries of space can stir up children's 3 spirits. It is our most important mission to motivate them via space education at their early stage of school life.