The document discusses the UNAWE project, which aims to engage children in astronomy education through diverse communication and organizational structures involving various stakeholders. It highlights the importance of effective internal and external communication mechanisms, particularly utilizing blogs and social media to foster collaboration and share experiences. The conclusions emphasize the potential of blogs to enhance communication, motivation, and a sense of community among participants while documenting the project's progress.

1. UNAWE and
the Social Web
Richard West & Irakli West
(Munich, Germany)
Germany)
October 13, 2006
Second UNAWE Interdisciplinary Workshop,
Lorentz Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
Key Elements of UNAWE
! Specific astronomical and cultural contents
! Diverse pedagogical means
! Organizational set-up at the international,
national and regional levels
! Associated communication, internal as
well as external
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2. Specific UNAWE Features
! Entirely new concept
! Involvement of many people with very diverse
backgrounds and who are located in many
different countries and regions
! Great organizational complexity
! Efficient communication system is needed to
“keep all of it together”
together”
UNAWE Participants
" There
# is a “Nucleus”, with:
Nucleus”
! The children
! The teachers/instructors
! The National Action Committees (possibly
also Regional ACs)
! The International Steering Committee with
an Executive Office
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3. UNAWE Participants
$# They interact directly with:
! The host schools or clubs (management, other
teachers)
! The supporting national organizations (science
centers, planetaria, research organizations, etc.).
! Advisors, consultants, etc., to the ISC and NACs
UNAWE Participants
%# While being supported by:
! Relevant national ministries (Education, Family
and Social Affairs, etc.)
! Participating international organizations
(UNESCO, EU, IAU, ESO, others)
! Contributing foundations and companies
! Distinguished individuals who mostly provide
moral backing
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4. UNAWE Participants
& And
# are “surrounded” by:
! The children’s families
children’
! Local authorities (municipal councils,
etc.)
! Special interest groups (teachers’
(teachers’
organizations, amateur astronomers,
scientists, etc.)
UNAWE Participants
'#There is also interest by:
! The media
! The general public
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5. UNAWE Communication
! The UNAWE communication system must
be highly effective, yet sufficiently
effective,
simple and flexible that all of these
parties will be served in an adequate
way, attracting and maintaining interest
while ensuring mutual benefits.
benefits.
Internal Communication
! Need regular, comprehensive, clear flow
! From management to participants (!):
(!
! Contents, methods and schedules of the programme,
! News about events, availability of materials, general
progress and future prospects
! From participants to management ("):
("
! Periodical reports with overviews of actions undertaken and
results achieved
! Recommendations, based on experience
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6. External Communication
! With supporting organizations and sponsors
! Project progress and achievements
! Close and open-minded contacts
! With national and international media, with the general
public
! Unique and global mission
! Interesting topics: “cosmos”,” underprivileged children”,
cosmos” children”
“future of humanity”
humanity”
! Apolitical nature of astronomy
Classical Channels
! Reports and brochures
! Manuals and teaching sheets
! Newsletter with texts and photos
! Printed or as CD-ROM/DVD
! Central UNAWE website
! Exchange at dedicated meetings
! Special courses for the instructors
! Progress reports at other meetings
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7. The Social Web
“Web 2.0” or “The Social Web”
2.0” Web”
! Is a new culture of social interaction via the internet and
! A second generation of services available on the World Wide
Web that “lets people collaborate and share information
online” (Wikipedia)
online”
Because
! More people are online
! Many more with fast connections
! The “onliners” are much more experienced than before
onliners”
! Easy-to-use technology
Weblogs = “Blogs”
! Blogs = on-line diaries
! 55 mill. blogs worldwide (Aug. 06)
! Personal blogs – corporate blogs
! Often topical on specific themes
! Virtual meeting points
! No geographical restrictions
! Exchange of thoughts and ideas
! Cooperations
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8. How Blogs Work
! Blogs are like an online magazine
! Articles, photos, videos are posted
! Others can make comments
! Dialogues develop among users
! Contents are “tagged” with descriptive words
tagged”
! “Trackbacks” to quoted postings
Trackbacks”
! Perform well in web-based searches (eg Google)
(eg
Blogs and Education
! Fine tool for educational purposes
! Class assignments via teacher’s blog
teacher’
! Students progress documented
! Resulting reports are published
! Other teams comment on the work
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9. Blogs and Motivation
“Kids are getting excited and engaged in literacy
through blogging, commenting, and sharing
ideas online”
online”
“There is an excitement that comes from writing for
a real, authentic audience instead of a circular
file seen only by the teacher”
teacher”
“This thrill can be a huge motivator for students”
students”
“Blogs are changing education” by Dennis Pierce (eSchool News)
education”
UNAWE Blogs
! One central blog – “the hub”
hub”
! Day-to-day overview of ongoing work
! Run by the UNAWE Executive
! Mostly addressed to participants
! Project blogs (few - temporary)
! Relate to particular events/sub-projects
! Run by people “in the field”
field”
! Of general interest, also to the public
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10. The Astrobus in Tunisia
Teachers’ workshop in Venezuela
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11. Astronomical event in the sky
Examples of project blogs
! Tunisian “Astrobus”
Astrobus”
! Day-to-day roadshow diary
! Run by the Astrobus team members
! With anecdotes and children’s ideas
children’
! Arabic and French, English translation
! Teacher/Instructor courses
! Programme, presentation of teachers and their home institutions
Programme,
! Astronomical events (eclipses, etc.)
! Visible in zones where UNAWE is active
! Opportunities for participation (cf. VT-2004)
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12. RSS Streams
! User has “RSS Reader” software
Reader”
! User subscribes to (news) website with “RSS Feed”
Feed”
! User receives automatically all new postings (articles,
photos, videos) which are posted
! A large number of sites can be monitored this way
! Fresh and complete news – no work!
UNAWE RSS Feeds
! A single RSS feed for every blog within
the project
! One master (aggregated) RSS feed per
language, including all posts in the same
language across all UNAWE projects
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13. Additional Aspects
! Most disadvantaged participants have no access
to the internet
! Programmes are underway in many countries
which aim at equipping more schools with basic
computer equipment
! Special effort to induce the teachers to read and
contribute to the blogs
! Children’s blogs for the oldest?
Children’
Set-up and running of blogs
! Technical requirements
! Software free (“wordpress”)
(“ wordpress”
! Blog must be customized
! Simple photo/video postproduction
! Organizational requirements
! Installation by technician + manager
! When running: part-time manager + on-call technician
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14. Conclusions (1)
UNAWE blogs
( Provide effective internal communication with
fast feed-back of experience gained,
unexpected developments, new ideas, ….
( Brings geographically separated participants
closer together and letting them sense that
they serve a common, noble goal
Conclusions (2)
UNAWE blogs
( Encourage the participants – in particular the teachers
- to come forward with ideas and opinions and “teach”
teach”
them how to communicate
( Document, also for posterity, the project progress with
a lively record of the many actions in different places
and environments
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15. Conclusions (3)
UNAWE blogs
( Display openness by enabling bystanders,
including the sponsors, the media and the
general public, to obtain a picture of the
ongoing programme
( Demonstrate that UNAWE is at the forefront,
not only in programme content and format,
but also in the communication field
In Summary
Any communication system that involves so many
people from so diverse regions and cultures is
extremely valuable and mutually enriching.
Although the inherent challenges should not be
underestimated, we are convinced that with the
proper planning and implementation, these
mechanisms will add considerably to the overall
impact of UNAWE.
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