Research of astronomy learning at home by ICT assistance in junior high school

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K03160
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 09080:Science education-related
• Research Institution: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
• Principal Investigator: Agata Hidehiko 国立天文台, 天文情報センター, 准教授 (30321582)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 天文教育 / 天体望遠鏡 / アクティブラーニング / STEAM / 課題解決学習 / 天体観察 / 量的研究 / 教材開発

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Astronomical telescopes have been an indispensable tool in the development of astronomy and also useful in astronomy education. However, telescopes are not yet widely used in education fields. This research was a test of one way to stimulate the distribution of astronomical telescopes in today’s science education teaching, which emphasizes problem-solving inquiry activities.
For this study, we conducted educational activities in elementary and junior high schools using an assembled astronomical telescope kit. For the purpose of enriching astronomy education in elementary schools,6grade students took home assembly-type telescope kits from an elementary school; three classes in the “Moon and Sun” unit attempted to observe the moon at home, and around 90% identified the existence of craters.We concluded that sufficient instruction is needed in using a telescope regardless of the grade level. Understanding the purpose and goal of using the telescope is also important.

Free Research Field

科学教育

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

主体的・対話的で深い学び（アクティブラーニング的な学び）の視点に立った授業改善を，小学校と中学校の理科・天文単元で直接利用可能なように，具体的な教具・教材を独自に開発し頒布するとともに，その有用性や利用のあたっての注意事項を複数の授業実践の考察から示した．
新型コロナウィルス感染症予防の観点からも，小・中学校に限らず，夜間に集まっての従来の観察会ではなく，天文の各学習単元において自宅における望遠鏡を用いた観察の導入を提言した．さらに各学校において持ち帰り可能な組み立て式望遠鏡キットの教具としての人数分の整備が不可欠であることを示した．