IYA09 Eratosthenes

Thu, 21/05/2009 - 23:04
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Calculating the circumference of the Earth, by measuring two shadows.

Participation of 9 countries : India, Slovenia, Romania, Italy, France, Malta, Argentina, Panama, Canada.

Website :  iya09.eratosthenes.free.fr

1. Project summary
Summary: 

2200 years ago, Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth.

On spring equinox 2009, 11 schools over the world measured the angle of the sun at noon.

The results of the measurements and calculations were exchanged on the website: http://iya09.eratosthenes.free.fr/ 

The final communication occured on videoconference.  You Tube playlist (Eratosthenes Spring Equinox 2009 Videoconference) 

2. Country (City / Region)
State: 
France
City: 
Lafrançaise
3. Company/organization/institute presenting the project
Organization: 
Collège Antonin Perbosc
4. Type of organization
Select type: 
School
5. Project coordinator
Name and Surname: 
Vayssié Eric
E-Mail: 
antonin.perbosc@laposte.net
6. Website
The website of the project: 
http://iya09.eratosthenes.free.fr/
7. Please select the category in which you candidate your project
Youth Education Project. Select Project Users by age: 
Up to 15 years
Helping youth step in the job market: 
NOT Helping youth step in the job market
Creativity and Social Innovation: 
Creativity and Social Innovation
8. How long has your project been running?
From: 
31/05/2008
9. Targets and Elements of Innovation
Please explain the targets and the background of your project: 

We run this measurement with our partner schools since 2005, on the website The Eratosthenes Library :

http://perbosc.eratosnoon.free.fr/

We decided to organize an event for the International Year of Astronomy.

What does it try to achieve and how: 
  1. Organization of the project on the forum : http://eratos.forum.free.fr/
  2. Measuring the length of a shadow at solar midday , on spring equinox.
  3. Exchanging the results, photos and videos on the website : http://iya09.eratosthenes.free.fr/
  4. Communication the calculations on videoconference : http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=AA63523E3D0DDE9C
Which opportunities/problems does it address to: 

The main problem was to choose a schedule for videoconference, because we had schools on 3 continents:

Forum (Choose the date -Scegli la data)

 

Please explain what is unique or special in your project: 

It was unique to use ICT tools of videoconference for making an historical experiment of 2200 years.

10. Results
Describe the results of your project as per today: 

The results, photos and videos on the website : http://iya09.eratosthenes.free.fr/

How does it fulfill the users’ needs: 




It was an introduction to astronomy in science but also art, literature, geography, history and foreign language.

This transdisciplinary approach motivates all students

 

How many users interact with your project per month and what are the preferred forms of interaction: 




The most outstanding event of our project was the videoconference of may 5th 2009, when we exchanged the measurements of the spring equinox.

 

How has it improved the quality of educational and/or training services: 

This project is also an eTwinning project :




twinblog : http://twinblog.etwinning.net/9849/

twinspace : http://my.twinspace.etwinning.net/iya09

 

 

How has it improved the participation of professionals, children, youth and other stakeholders: 




The results are also published on the website of European Association for Astronomy in Education (2009) :

http://isheyevo.ens-lyon.fr/eaae/groupspace/eratosthene/

 

How does it promote the use of ICT for the educational and cultural development by professionals, children and youth: 

Describe how you measure (parameters) these results: 

The evaluation of the results with teachers and students (France) comments on the forum : http://eratos.forum.free.fr/

11. Sustainability
What is the full duration of your project: 
More than 6 years
Is your project economically self sufficient now: 
Yes
12. Transferability
What lessons can others learn from your project: 

A really simple scientific experiment for age 6 to 16.

Participants just needed a wooden stick and a rule for measuring a shadow. This was adapted for all the participants of all the countries.

The participants needed an internet connection. That is with this media that we could meet each other

We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects: 
We are available to help others starting or working on similar projects.
13. Background information
Background: 

Partner in Italy :

  • Scuola Primario Paradisio
  • Istituto comprensivo M. Buonarroti
  • Marina di Carrara
  • teacher: Rossella Bragazzi
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