The Role of Virtual Platforms in Modern Astronomy Education: Analysis of Innovative Approaches

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.57125/FED.2023.09.25.14

Keywords:

astronomy, virtual platforms, application, education, programme, digitalisation

Abstract

The purpose of the article was to study the role of virtual platforms in modern astronomy teaching by identifying and using innovative approaches as well as conducting an empirical study on this topic. To achieve this goal, the scientific methods of descriptive statistics and comparative analysis were used. Subsequently, qualitative interviews were transcribed, and the thematic analysis was used in order to identify recurring themes and patterns in the data. At the same time, a content analysis of the professional literature (41 items) on the integration of virtual platforms into the educational process (including the use of its achievements for teaching astronomy) was carried out. The results showed that the use of virtual platforms in the process of teaching astronomy is one of the promising innovative technological trends that requires further study. The study found that almost all the surveyed specialists used digital tools in their teaching and learning process at least once a week, which is in line with international standards. The interest in the latest technologies, such as artificial intelligence, indicates the relevance of global trends in education in Ukraine, especially in the context of astronomy. In this regard, it is important considering the issues of corporate ethics, the introduction of new approaches to the organisation of the educational process, structural and managerial changes, and pedagogical strategies aimed at adapting to new realities. The scientific novelty of the paper is the use of empirical data to determine the role of virtual platforms in teaching astronomy in Ukraine. The conclusions indicated that these innovative approaches contribute to the improvement of the level of astronomy understanding and to the increase of students' interest in learning about the universe. They allow creating more dynamic and interactive lessons for the learning process.

References

Abichandani, P., Mcintyre, W., Fligor, W., & Lobo, D. (2019). Solar energy education through a cloud-based desktop virtual reality system. IEEE Access, 7, 147081–147093. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2019.2945700

Abumalloh, R. A., Asadi, S., Nilashi, M., Minaei-Bidgoli, B., Nayer, F. K., Samad, S. … Ibrahim, O. (2021). The impact of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) on education: The role of virtual and remote laboratories in education. Technology in Society, 67, Article 101728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101728

Anthony Jnr, B., & Noel, S. (2021). Examining the adoption of emergency remote teaching and virtual learning during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Educational Management, ahead-of-print, 35(6), 1136–1150. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijem-08-2020-0370

Atta, G., Abdelsattar, A., Elfiky, D., Zahran, M., Farag, M., & Slim, S. O. (2022). Virtual reality in space technology education. Education Sciences, 12(12), Article 890. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci12120890

Bedregal-Alpaca, N., Sharhorodska, O., Jiménez-Gonzáles, L., & Arce-Apaza, R. (2020). A gamification experience and virtual reality in teaching astronomy in basic education. International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, 11(5). https://doi.org/10.14569/ijacsa.2020.0110566

Cejas Martínez, M. F., Navarro Cejas, M., Venegas Alvarez, G. S., Proaño Rodríguez, C. E., & Mendoza Velazco, D. J. (2021). Student perceptions of ecuadorian virtual platforms during the Covid-19 pandemic. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 79(2), 241–254. https://doi.org/10.33225/pec/21.79.241

Chaiyarak, S., Nilsook, P., & Wannapiroon, P. (2021). An empirical study of intelligent virtual universal learning platforms. In 2021 research, invention, and innovation congress: Innovation electricals and electronics (RI2C). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/ri2c51727.2021.9559785

Cheng, L., Niu, W.-C., Zhao, X.-G., Xu, C.-L., & Hou, Z.-Y. (2021). Design and implementation of college physics teaching platform based on virtual experiment scene. The International Journal of Electrical Engineering & Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020720920984688

Cole, M., Cohen, C., Wilhelm, J., & Lindell, R. (2018). Spatial thinking in astronomy education research. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 14(1), Article 010139. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevphyseducres.14.010139

Cortiz, D., & Silva, J. O. (2017). Web and virtual reality as platforms to improve online education experiences. In 2017 10th international conference on human system interactions (HSI) (pp. 83–87). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/hsi.2017.8005003

Cui, C.-Z., He, B.-L., Li, C.-H., Fan, D.-W., Li, S.-S., Mi, L.-Y. … Han, X. (2017). AstroCloud: A distributed cloud computing and application platform for astronomy. In J. Wang, H. Wang, B. Cheng, & T. Chen (Eds.), 3rd international conference on wireless communication and sensor networks (WCSN 2016). Atlantis Press. https://doi.org/10.2991/icwcsn-16.2017.108

de Moraes Rossetto, A. G., Martins, T. C., Silva, L. A., Leithardt, D. R. F., Bermejo‐Gil, B. M., & Leithardt, V. R. Q. (2023). An analysis of the use of augmented reality and virtual reality as educational resources. Computer Applications in Engineering Education. https://doi.org/10.1002/cae.22671

Domingo, J. R., & Bradley, E. G. (2017). Education student perceptions of virtual reality as a learning tool. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 46(3), 329–342. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239517736873

Ergüzen, A., Erdal, E., Ünver, M., & Özcan, A. (2021). Improving technological infrastructure of distance education through trustworthy platform-independent virtual software application pools. Applied Sciences, 11(3), 1214. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11031214

Gargano, M., Gasperini, A., Schiavone, L., & Brunetti, F. (2018). Polvere di stelle The Italian platform for data-sharing and data-preserving of modern and ancient astronomical resources. EPJ Web of Conferences, 186, Article 07002. https://doi.org/10.1051/epjconf/201818607002

Haleem, P. A., Javaid, D. M., Qadri, P. M. A., & Suman, D. R. (2022). Understanding the role of digital technologies in education: A review. Sustainable Operations and Computers, 3, 275–285. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.susoc.2022.05.004

Hasan, P., & Hasan, S. N. (2019). Astronomy data, virtual observatory and education. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 15(S367), 151–154. https://doi.org/10.1017/s174392132100034x

Herwig, F., Andrassy, R., Annau, N., Clarkson, O., Côté, B., D’Sa, A. … Woodward, P. (2018). Cyberhubs: Virtual research environments for astronomy. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 236(2). https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4365/aab777

Impey, C. (2019). Online resources for astronomy education and outreach. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 15(S367), 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743921321000399

Kamińska, D., Sapiński, T., Wiak, S., Tikk, T., Haamer, R., Avots, E. … Anbarjafari, G. (2019). Virtual reality and its applications in education: Survey. Information, 10(10), Article 318. https://doi.org/10.3390/info10100318

Kersting, M., Bondell, J., Steier, R., & Myers, M. (2023). Virtual reality in astronomy education: Reflecting on design principles through a dialogue between researchers and practitioners. International Journal of Science Education, Part B. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2023.2238871

Kruss, G., McGrath, S., Petersen, I.-h., & Gastrow, M. (2015). Higher education and economic development: The importance of building technological capabilities. International Journal of Educational Development, 43, 22–31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2015.04.011

Malchenko, S. L., Mykoliuk, D. V., & Kiv, A. E. (2020). Using interactive technologies to study the evolution of stars in astronomy classes. In A. E. Kiv & M. P. Shyshkina (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2nd International Workshop "Augmented reality in education" (AREdu 2019) (pp. 145–155). https://doi.org/10.31812/123456789/3752

Malchenko, S. L., Tsarynnyk, M. S., Poliarenko, V. S., Berezovska-Savchuk, N. A., & Liu, S. (2021). Mobile technologies providing educational activity during classes. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1946(1), Article 012010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1946/1/012010

Mickaelian, A. M., & Mikayelyan, G. A. (2019). The role of Big Data in astronomy education. Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, 15(S367), 214–217. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1743921321000570

Mokhun, S., Fedchyshyn, O., Kasianchuk, M., Chopyk, P., Basistyi, P., & Matsyuk, V. (2022).Stellarium software as a means of development of students' research competence while studying physics and astronomy. In 2022 12th international conference on advanced computer information technologies (ACIT). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/acit54803.2022.9913116

Nakata, M., Hamacher, D., Warren, J., Byrne, A., Pagnucco, M., Harley, R. … Bolt, R. (2014). Using modern technologies to capture and share indigenous astronomical knowledge. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 45(2), 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2014.917786

Osores, J. J. V. (2020). Virtual university education in the context of the health emergency due to COVID-19: Challenges in the evaluation processes. International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education, 12(1), 467–477. https://doi.org/10.9756/int-jecse/v12i1.201027

Plass, J. L., Hovey, C., Maso, A. S., Fröhlich, F., Ghosh, S., Olsen, A., & Perlin, K. (2022). Designing effective immersive VR learning experiences. Immersive Learning Research – Practitioner, 1(1), 32–37. https://doi.org/10.56198/A6PFY1CBT

Potkonjak, V., Gardner, M., Callaghan, V., Mattila, P., Guetl, C., Petrović, V. M., & Jovanović, K. (2016). Virtual laboratories for education in science, technology, and engineering: A review. Computers & Education, 95, 309–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2016.02.002

Reynosa Navarro, E., Montero, J. M. C., Meléndez, L. V., & Navarro, E. R. (2022). Development of social skills of high school students on virtual platforms, 2021. World Journal on Educational Technology: Current Issues, 14(1), 231–242. https://doi.org/10.18844/wjet.v14i1.6720

Sarkar, B., Saha, D., & Das, A. (2021). Voice of the future classroom: Virtual and augmented reality. In S. Pal, T. Quang Cuong, & R. S. S. Nehru (Eds.), Digital education for the 21st century (pp. 181–206). Apple Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003180517-8

Schneps, M. H., Ruel, J., Sonnert, G., Dussault, M., Griffin, M., & Sadler, P. M. (2014). Conceptualizing astronomical scale: Virtual simulations on handheld tablet computers reverse misconceptions. Computers & Education, 70, 269–280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2013.09.001

Sit, E. C. L. (2022). Astronomy for special education needs. Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica Serie de Conferencias, 54, 104–106. https://doi.org/10.22201/ia.14052059p.2022.54.23

Smith, J. R., Snapp, B., Madar, S., Brown, J. R., Fowler, J., Andersen, M. … Orban, C. (2022). A smartphone-based virtual reality plotting system for STEM education. Primus, 33(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511970.2021.2006378

Taghizadeh-Popp, M., Kim, J. W., Lemson, G., Medvedev, D., Raddick, M. J., Szalay, A. S. … Rippin, M. (2020). SciServer: A science platform for astronomy and beyond. Astronomy and Computing, 33, Article 100412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ascom.2020.100412

Volioti, C., Keramopoulos, E., Sapounidis, T., Melisidis, K., Zafeiropoulou, M., Sotiriou, C., & Spiridis, V. (2022). Using augmented reality in K-12 education: An indicative platform for teaching physics. Information, 13(7), Article 336. https://doi.org/10.3390/info13070336

Zhang, Q., Wang, K., & Zhou, S. (2020). Application and practice of VR virtual education platform in improving the quality and ability of college students. IEEE Access, 8, 162830–162837. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.3019262

Zhang, Y., & Zhao, Y.(2015). Astronomy in the Big Data era. Data Science Journal, 14(11), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.5334/dsj-2015-011

Downloads

Published

2023-09-25

How to Cite

Khorolskyi, O. (2023). The Role of Virtual Platforms in Modern Astronomy Education: Analysis of Innovative Approaches. Futurity Education, 3(3), 249–265. https://doi.org/10.57125/FED.2023.09.25.14