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SUMMARY:P27 - How to Start Astronomy in School: A Collaborative Pathway fr
 om First Activities to Student Leaders and Community Outreach
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261123T033000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261123T040000Z
DTSTAMP;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20261112T142709Z
UID:indico-contribution-895@indico.narit.or.th
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Thanarat Sabsom ()\nMany schools are interested in i
 ntroducing astronomy education but often face challenges in starting a pro
 gram due to limited teacher experience\, insufficient resources\, and unce
 rtainty about how to create meaningful learning opportunities. As a result
 \, astronomy activities may remain occasional events rather than developin
 g into a continuous learning culture involving students and communities. T
 his presentation shares a practical pathway for starting astronomy educati
 on in a school setting through collaboration\, student leadership\, and co
 mmunity engagement.\n\nThe initiative was developed at Rongkwang Anusorn S
 chool\, Thailand\, through a collaborative approach involving teacher deve
 lopment\, administrative support\, student participation\, resources from 
 the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT)\, and par
 tnerships with external organizations. After participating in introductory
  astronomy teacher training\, the school began with small-scale activities
  using available resources\, including star-map activities\, telescope obs
 ervations\, celestial object observations\, and astronomy media. These ini
 tial experiences gradually expanded through support from NARIT\, including
  a 10-inch reflecting telescope and a mobile planetarium\, leading to the 
 establishment of the Astro R.A. Astronomy Club.\n\nThe program focused on 
 transforming students from astronomy learners into astronomy leaders. Twen
 ty student leaders were trained in astronomical knowledge\, scientific pro
 cess skills\, science communication\, activity design\, and learning facil
 itation. They developed and delivered astronomy learning activities throug
 h stargazing stations\, mobile planetarium sessions\, solar observations\,
  astronomy camps\, and night-sky observations for students from different 
 age groups and members of the public.\n\nDuring one academic year\, the pr
 ogram conducted seven major activities across six venues\, reaching a cumu
 lative attendance of 1\,960. The activities extended astronomy learning be
 yond the classroom to other schools and local communities. Observations an
 d reflections indicated that student leaders developed greater confidence 
 in communication\, teamwork\, leadership\, and activity management\, while
  participants gained increased interest and positive attitudes toward astr
 onomy through direct experiences.\n\nThe initiative received the Outstandi
 ng School Astronomy Activity Award and the Rising Star Award at the 7th Co
 nference on Astronomy Activities in Schools (CAAS). This experience demons
 trates that schools can begin astronomy education with small steps and gra
 dually expand through collaboration\, empowering students as facilitators\
 , and connecting astronomy learning with wider communities.\n\nhttps://ind
 ico.narit.or.th/event/238/contributions/895/
LOCATION:Dusit Thani Mactan Cebu Resort\, Mactan\, Cebu
URL:https://indico.narit.or.th/event/238/contributions/895/
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