Applications open for new e-technology lab secondary teacher workshops

Applications open for new e-technology lab secondary teacher workshops

Secondary school teachers from ESA Member and Associate States are invited to apply to technology and robotics workshops to be given at the e-Technology Lab in the ESA Education Training Centre, located in Belgium, in October, November and December 2018.

The three-identical technology and robotics workshops for secondary school teachers will take place on 15-17 October2018, 26-28 November 2018 and 18-20 December 2018. Interested teachers can chose to apply to one of the three workshops only.

During the 2.5-day workshops, teachers will learn how to use space robotics as well as automation (Arduino) in the context of curricular subjects such as physics and technology, and will discover and master new tools and inquiry-based practices for STEM teaching and learning at school.

The number of available places is limited, so apply now so as not to miss this opportunity!

What to expect

During the workshops, teachers will firstly discover the Arduino tool. Electricity, the use of environmental sensors, data collection, and computer programming will be investigated during this phase. Teachers will then have the task of designing and building their own automatic plant-watering machine. Finally, teachers will create robots using LEGO Mindstorms tools and perform a ‘Mission to Mars’ with specific discovery objectives.  The states of matter, computer programming, data collection, and data analysis are among the subjects that will be investigated.

Inspired by real ESA space missions, teachers will learn about the different kinds of expertise and skills necessary to make a space project successful.

Who can apply?

The workshops are open to secondary school teachers of STEM-related subjects residing and working within any ESA Member or Associate State. Priority will be given to teachers who have never attended any ESA e-Technology Lab (formerly e-robotics lab) workshop before.

How and when to apply
Teachers wishing to participate should fill in the relevant application form.

The deadlines to submit applications are:

• 7 September 2018 for the workshop taking place from 15 to 17 October 2018.  Applicants will be notified by 10 September, whether they are successful or not.
• 26 September 2018 for the workshop taking place from 26 to 28 November 2018.  Applicants will be notified by 1 October, whether they are successful or not.
• 17 October 2018 for the workshop taking place from 18 to 20 December 2018.  Applicants will be notified by 22 October, whether they are successful or not.

Note: ESA reserves the right to close the application window earlier than the given deadline if a sufficient number of quality applications are received. In such case, an announcement will be posted on the ESA Education Facebook page.

Workshop details

The workshops will take place at the ESA Education Training Centre at ESEC-Galaxia, located in Transinne, Belgium. Further practical details will be communicated directly to the selected participants.

The working language of the workshop will be English.

Attendance to the entire workshop is mandatory.

Sponsorship and costs
Selected teachers should arrange their travel from their departure point in an ESA Member or Associate State to the location of the training course, and back to their original departure point. Travel expenses will be covered by ESA up to a maximum of 200€ per teacher. These expenses will be reimbursed to the teacher’s bank account after the event, upon production of valid, original receipts.

For the duration of the workshop, accommodation, catering, and local transportation will be organised, booked, and paid by ESA’s Education Office. Teachers will be sharing hotel rooms.

Teachers are responsible for their own arrangements for passports, visas, and any additional insurance required.

If you have any questions, please email etechnologylab @ esa.int

Sources:

ESA