Many outreach programmes offered by CERN for pupils are based on hands-on activities. Hands-on learning is an educational method that directly involves the learner, by actively encouraging them to do something in order to learn about it. In short, it is 'learning by doing'.
An example of hands-on activity offered by CERN for primary schools is the “Be a scientist” (https://voisins.cern/en/be-scientist [1]) project. S’Cool LAB (https://scoollab.web.cern.ch/ [2]) also offers hands-on activities for high school students.
Can the concept of hands-on activities be transposed online, with the
following characteristics?
- Easily done with objects that can be found at home or in a classroom, or with easily transportable kits.
- Interactive.
- Clear connection with CERN’s activities and researchers.
- For kids 8-15 y/o.
- A plus: a hands-on that can be done both from a classroom (with no videoconference system) and at home.
Immediate goal: one or more ideas for content, shape and material, how to implement them, how much they’d cost, etc. Create a small demo.
Long-term: collaborate with the CERN Local Engagement team to test the project.
- Education, especially kids
- Website development
- Technical skills
- Outreach
- Research
If the current COVID-19 crisis was to last longer, we need to be able to offer a content for CERN’s outreach activities that can adapt to social distancing and potentially home schooling. The activity would first be developed locally, but if it becomes self-sufficient, it could be shared internationally.
[1] https://voisins.cern/en/be-scientist
[2] https://scoollab.web.cern.ch/
[3] Image: https://mediastream.cern.ch/MediaArchive/Photo/Public/2011/1102073/1102073_07/1102073_07-A4-at-144-dpi.jpg
