Northern Ireland Curriculum
In 2006 the Armagh Planetarium launched the Northern Ireland Space Office (NISO) with aims to build on the interest and enthusiasm of teachers already involved in space science projects by developing resources to support all teachers in aligning the potential offered by developing technologies to the requirements of the revised Northern Ireland Curriculum. The resulting resources and support materials will use the context of space to relate science, technology and mathematics to real life. The Space Office mission is to create a learning environment that encourages school children to recognise the importance of science, engineering and technology in modern industry and society.
There is a real problem facing Europe with not enough students tackling the disciplines in school that they perceive as difficult and NISO is working to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers. Northern Ireland has a fabulous educational reputation and it is important that our next generation gain the necessary knowledge to compete in a European knowledge-based society and economy. The NISO is also part of the Space Connections group and has the following objectives:
- Engage with local industry and curriculum development partners to create a curriculum addressing the needs of modern industry and society.
- Encourage regional industry and government to recognise the benefits to local industry and the economy of engaging in space related endeavour.
- Show best practice using exciting ICT projects related to astronomy, space and science in the classroom.
- Create innovative curricular related material developing key skills in numeracy and literacy.
- Demonstrate the use of space-related activities and themes in the classroom to develop pupil-teacher confidence in using new resources available to schools to develop key and core skills.
- Generate teacher enthusiasm in using astronomy and space-related resources through teacher training.
For further information please contact Rob Hill on 08456 522406.
