By consulting with the EMRS teachers and assessing the aptitude and interest of the tribal students, 30 of them are to be selected based on their compatibility with the required skills for the project. These 30 students would undergo Level 1 (knowledge + communication); select (based on a Before-After test) 15 will undergo Level 2 (skill + communication) training. The remaining 15 students would be accommodated in other Astro programs of our organisation. The training would be conducted during the leisure time of the students not disturbing the academic schedule. 15 trained tribal Astronomy Guides, and their mentors; the organisers will be on boarded on the online networking platform that is already being built. As the EMRS already has developed an eLearning system with Internet access, the networking platform will allow the guides to connect with the mentors to further ask their doubts and stay in touch with fellow guides. The organisers will be able to connect with the guides and; invite them to organise the stargazing programs through the platform. Eventually, this project can be expanded worldwide to add more guides. We are in the process of collaboration with mentors In Brazil who want to implement the astrotribe project online.
Activities
a.Level 1 Pre-Training test:
The AstroTribe team decided to execute the project in the areas famous for tourism as well as access to less light polluted skies, allowing the AstroTribe participants more opportunities through the project. After enquiring with the schools in Manali, Himachal Pradesh and Leh, Ladakh, India, Delhi Public School, Manali and SECMOL, Leh were shortlisted to execute the project. 96 students combined from both the schools, submitted the “Interest Assessment Test” out of which 20 were shortlisted from DPS Manali and 15 were shortlisted from SECMOL, Leh.Then based on the interviews and participation of these selected students a total of 8 SECMOL and 9 DPS MANALI Astro guides were finalized.
b.Level 1: First training session (DPS & SECMOL): 2 days approximately 3 hours each day
Astronomical Topics covered- In person lectures along with visual teaching aids were used to teach these topics and were simplified for better understanding.
i.Earth (Latitudes & Longitudes, Northern and Southern Hemisphere, Axis of the earth, rotation and revolution, seasons, Time Zones)
ii.Basic astronomical terms (Star, Planet, Satellites, Eclipses, Galaxy, Nebulae, Supernova etc.)
iii.Solar System (Sizes, distances, basic characteristics of each planet)
iv.Cosmic address (Milky Way Galaxy, Local Galaxy Group, Virgo
v.Cluster, Laniakea SuperCluster, Universe)
Astronomical Activities-
i. Understanding movement of Earth and other planets, eclipses using body movement.
ii. Understanding distances in the Solar System by paper folding and drawing activity.
iii. Understanding the Solar System by using “Eyes on NASA”
iv. Game to talk about new things learnt during the session and promote public speaking
v. Q&A , Feedback sessions
Psychological Activities –
i.Mind mapping knowledge of astronomy.(Initial before intense training activity)
ii.Body movement in relation to Science Communication (helped the students to loosen up and bring about a comfortable environment between the tutors and students.)
c.Level 2 A: Second training session (SECMOL): 3 days approximately 5 hours each day
Astronomical Topics Covered-In person lectures along with visual teaching aids were used to teach these topics and were simplified for better understanding.
i.Stellar Life Cycle (Nebula, Protostars, Red Giants, Blue Giants, White dwarfs, Supernova, Black Hole, Neutron Stars, HR Diagram)
ii.Relevance between astronomy and other fields such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer Programming
Astronomical Activities-
i.Science fiction story making to solve the problem of light pollution in the year 2050—– Students worked in group and brainstormed to come up with solution to the problem of light pollution and topic of Dark Sky Preservation as well as Astro tourism and its benefit especially to regions like Ladakh and it indigenous tribes.
ii.Science Communication, Understanding the language, details and context, Using body, voice and storytelling as tools, Understanding the audience, skills to become science communicator and avenues to generate income through science communication—- For this particular aspect students were divided into groups of 3-4 and given random scenarios like, executing stargazing events, communicating a problem during the event, Teaching other students the complex concepts of astronomy. All these topics were enacted by astro guide without using any word but solely based on acting and non verbal communication.
Psychological Topics Covered-
iii.Interest in astronomy education
iv.Interest in Astronomy career
v.Public speaking
vi.Story telling
Psychological Activities –
i.Superstitions and Myths bursting discussion
ii.Discussion about study and career in astronomy
iii.Storytelling through physical movements
iv.Q&A , Feedback sessions
d.Level 2 B: Second training session (SECMOL): 5 days approximately 3 hours each day
Astronomical Topics Covered- In person lectures along with an activity to assemble and set the telescope of certain objects was used to simplify for better understanding and for getting used to skills of telescope parts and configuration.
i.Telescopes (History, Types, sizes, structure, working)
ii.Positional Astronomy
Astronomical Activities-
i.Observing through telescope (Summer triangle, Scorpio, Dolphinus , Moon, Mars, Orion Nebula)
ii.Experiencing Moon Landing through Virtual Reality Simulation Goggles.
iii.Mock stargazing event for peers and staff
iv.Model making of AstroLabe to understand the angular movement of the celestial objects
v. Peer review on communication
vi. FAQs of stargazing and answering them
vii. On spot astronomy talk and learning the art of storytelling and body language
Psychological Activities –
i. Telescopes (History, Types, sizes, structure, working)
ii. Positional Astronomy
iii. Discussion on Indigenous stories and understanding of night skies of the respective tribes in respective villages.
e.Level 2C : Second training session SECMOL: 3 days approximately 5 hours each day
i.Exoplanets and discoveries.
ii Revision and doubt clarification session for all sessions conducted so far.
Astronomical Activities-
i. Observing new constellations through telescope ((Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Double Cluster in Perseus)
ii. Telescope assembly and setting mock practice.
ii.Lecture on how to pursue the study, career and future opportunities in astronomy.
iii.Building an on campus model of Solar system by drawing relative sizes and distances between the solar system.
Psychological Activities-
i. Brain Mapping( Final activity after completion of the entire training of the project )A comparative study drawn from the before and after brain mapping activity roughly examining the understating of the astro guides.
f. Level 2 D: AstroGuide Independent Stargazing Event
DPS MANALI ASTRO GUIDES .
Venue: Manu Allya, Manali , Himachal Pradesh , India
Date: 24th November ,2024
Conducted under the guidance of: Shweta Kulkarni, Ruchira Huchgol
Conducted by : DPS (Non Tribal )Astroguides
Training attended by: The Astro Guides executed a 2 hour stargazing program , setting the telescope ,showing moon, planets , constellations ,answering the doubts of the audience. This program was held on the occasion of opening night of the Dark Sky preservation And Astro Tourism Conference organized by AstronEra.The program was attended by the entire delegation of the conference around 60 people and also by the hotel staff of the property around 15 people . So in total the audience comprised 75 people in total .
Venue: SECMOL Phey, Ladakh, India
Conducted by : SECMOL ( Tribal ) Astroguides
Training attended by: Spring camp students at SECMOL and other SECMOL Students (~100)
The Astro Guides executed a 2 hour stargazing program for the all the students and faculty on the campus of SECMOL.The Astro Guides divide themselves into 2 groups of 4 and very managed the various tasks of handling and setting up the telescope , engaging the audience , familiarizing them with constellations as well as handling a VR google have a 3 min moon landing experience.The Astro guides used a mixture of their tribal local ladakhi language and english to communicate with their desired audience . The total audience engaged in the event was about 50 people.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes were measured through Before- After Tests suitably devised by respective experts in view of qualitative & quantitative measurement.
Brain Maps: The students were asked to write all the words they knew about astronomy before the training began. After completion of the training, they were asked to do the same activity which we refer to as a “Brain Map”. It is clear through the data of this ‘before’ and ‘after’ activity, that the students gained vocabulary during the training.
Ratings on practical skills by peers and mentors: The students were asked to observe each other during the practical sessions and were rated on the following criteria –
Knowledge of telescopes.
Telescope handling and assembly.
Knowledge of astronomical events
Star gazing
Communication skills
Body language
Response to the doubts raised by the audience.
Knowledge of planning and organizing an event.
Ability to handle the overall challenge
AstroGuides : 17 astroguides from tribal communities trained for science communication that are now spreading awareness about astronomy and reducing superstitions in their own villages.
Mentor on-boarding: 44 mentors from 17 countries from 12 different fields related to astronomy on-boarded.
AstroTourism resort collaborations:
1.) Manu Allaya, Manali,Himachal Pradesh ,India.
2.) GlampEco Domes, Sethan, Himachal Pradesh, India
3.) SECMOL CAMPUS, Leh, Ladakh
4.) Ladakh Himalayan Retreat, Leh, Ladakh
5.) Ladakh Eco Resort, Leh, Ladakh
The impact measurement will be done to check the improvement of tribal students choosing STEM education & careers as well as checking up on the dropout rates after the year of the completion of the project.
