Democratizing Astronomy through teacher training in Portuguese-speaking contexts

Abstract

In 2016, the Planetário do Porto – Ciência Viva Center (PP-CCV) launched a new approach to its in-service teacher training plan (TTP). This plan was structured around five key elements: (i) its relevance for teacher career progression, being free of charge and open to educators of all school subjects; (ii) an inquiry-based learning design, grounded in the most updated scientific knowledge and methods; (iii) a direct alignment with the school curriculum; (iv) the use Astronomy as a vehicle for interdisciplinary learning across several school subjects; and (v) a commitment to democratizing science leveraging the school system’s multiplier effect. In this article, we present the different stages in the development of the TTP, which include institutional partnership with NASE (Network for Astronomy School Education) and EAAE (European Association for Astronomy Education). The program enrolled 3,208 teachers from all the Portuguese districts as well as from the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP). The PP-CCV’s TTP, practical and replicable, proved to be an effective channel for bringing cutting-edge scientific knowledge and practices to educational contexts – especially in communities with historically low engagement with science, not by choice, but due to systemic barriers in access to scientific education.