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SUMMARY:P10 - ASTRO-KS Model: Building a Participatory Astronomy Learning 
 Ecosystem  for School and Rural Communities in Thailand.
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261123T033000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261123T040000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261112T143819Z
UID:indico-contribution-874@indico.narit.or.th
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Witchaphon Puangkaew (Khuruprachasan School\, Second
 ary Educational Service Area Office Uthai Thani  Chai Nat\, Thailand.)\nAs
 tronomy can foster scientific literacy\, critical thinking\, imagination\,
  and competencies essential for twenty-first-century learners. Nevertheles
 s\, many rural schools face barriers to high-quality astronomy education\,
  including limited access to scientific instruments\, specialist expertise
 \, authentic data\, learning resources\, and hands-on scientific experienc
 es. This study presents and evaluates the ASTRO-KS Model\, a school-based 
 framework developed at Khuruprachasan School in Chainat Province\, Thailan
 d\, to build a participatory astronomy learning ecosystem under the guidin
 g principle of “Astronomy for All”. The model seeks to position rural 
 schools as hubs for astronomy learning\, student research\, science commun
 ication\, and community engagement.\nThe ASTRO-KS Model comprises seven in
 terconnected and mutually reinforcing components: (1) Access and Awareness
 \, expanding access to astronomy and strengthening public awareness\; (2) 
 School-Based Astronomy System\, integrating astronomy into curricula\, cla
 ssroom instruction\, extracurricular activities\, and school management\; 
 (3) Talent and Team Development\, strengthening the capacities of students
 \, teachers\, youth leaders\, and implementation teams\; (4) Research and 
 Real Experience\, engaging learners with astronomical observations\, authe
 ntic data\, scientific instruments\, and research processes\; (5) Outreach
  and Opportunity\, communicating astronomy to the public and broadening le
 arning opportunities for schools and communities\; (6) Knowledge-Sharing N
 etwork\, facilitating the exchange of knowledge\, resources\, and effectiv
 e practices\; and (7) Sustainability\, establishing mechanisms for continu
 ity\, scaling\, and long-term implementation.\nA case-study programme eval
 uation was conducted using implementation data collected between 2023 and 
 2026. Data sources included activity records\, participant registers\, stu
 dent research and innovation outputs\, presentation records\, network docu
 mentation\, and participant evaluation surveys. The data were analysed usi
 ng content analysis and descriptive statistics. The model systematically i
 ntegrates classroom learning\, a young scientists club\, astronomy camps\,
  student research projects\, teacher professional development\, student ac
 ademic conferences\, interschool collaboration\, and public astronomy outr
 each.\nThe learning ecosystem expanded to seven secondary schools and fift
 een primary schools across several provinces in Thailand\, generating more
  than 12\,000 cumulative participant engagements. Students developed more 
 than 50 astronomy and STEM projects covering observational astronomy\, ast
 rophysics\, spectroscopy\, astronomy education\, and integrated STEM learn
 ing. Student and teacher outputs were presented or recognised at national 
 and international forums\, including CAAS\, TACs\, K–12 Astro Asia\, SEA
 -PEO\, and national science and innovation events. Community outreach inco
 rporated more than 50 hands-on learning activities\, public sky observatio
 ns\, student-led science communication\, and cultural performances. Among 
 survey respondents\, mean satisfaction was 4.72 out of 5.00\, while the pr
 oportion of students expressing interest in further STEM study or careers 
 rose from 58% in the pre-activity survey to 87% in the post-activity surve
 y.\nThe findings suggest that the ASTRO-KS Model is a promising\, practice
 -oriented framework for inclusive and participatory astronomy education. B
 y connecting school-based learning\, youth development\, authentic researc
 h\, public science communication\, collaborative networks\, and local cult
 ure\, the model may be adapted and scaled in rural and resource-constraine
 d settings to promote equitable access\, strengthen school–community par
 tnerships\, and support sustainable astronomy learning ecosystems in Thail
 and and across Southeast Asia.\n**Keywords:** ASTRO-KS Model\, astronomy e
 ducation\, learning ecosystem\, science communication\, community engageme
 nt\, educational equity\, rural schools\n\nhttps://indico.narit.or.th/even
 t/238/contributions/874/
LOCATION:Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort\, Mactan\, Cebu
URL:https://indico.narit.or.th/event/238/contributions/874/
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