Solar Eclipse Workshop at HartRAO, July 2002
Implementation Strategy for HartRAO's Partners
The following questions were posed to the representatives of the different
centres,
- Who will be targeted?
- What 'contacts' do they have in their respective communities?
- How many individuals they intended inviting per workshop?
- Can they provide provisional dates for different activities?
- Can suitable venues be suggested?
- How will they collaborate with other centres?
- What ideas and concepts will be presented at the workshop at HartRAO
and what resources of those provided to them will be used?
- What will be planned for the morning of the eclipse between 07h00 and
08h30?
After discussion, the following suggestions were made:
- Science and geography teacher's creative responses to
the eclipse should be elicited through running workshops at different
centres.
- All teachers will be targeted regarding safety aspects of
eclipse viewing.
- District offices will be approached first to get their "buy
in" and a list of schools can be obtained from them.
All participants agreed that a larger audience could be reached:
- Via the media - interviews with local radio and television stations,
local newspapers can carry articles and interviews (proof read before being
printed).
- Using the A4 information leaflet produced by HartRAO, which will be
translated into various indigenous languages and be distributed to the
public.
- Using posters about the eclipse, designed by FEST(?) or locally, and
displayed publically.
- By visiting the Chiefs of local villages and possibly meeting villagers
"under a tree" to educate them about the forthcoming solar eclipse.
- By approaching Ministers of churches to reach their congregations and
promote eclipse awareness.
- By targeting Municipal Councillors to promote public awareness about the
eclipse.
Each centre developed the following short term plans:
Bostec, Burgerrecht Village near Alldays, Limpopo
- Start the programme by first holding workshops with staff members before
2002 August 7.
- The area office will be approached regarding their eclipse awareness
programme.
- HartRAO is scheduled to run a demonstration workshop on 2002 August 7 at
The University of the North, at which Bostec will participate.
- Bostec will then organize more workshops based on the above experience.
- Local villagers will be accessed via each headman.
- An interview with a local radio station in Polokwane is planned for
sometime in 2002 September and the last week in 2002 November, close to the
date of the total solar eclipse.
- A slide projector is to be borrowed from the municipality and a talk on
the eclipse will be given to key members of the municipality.
Moffat Mission Trust, Kuruman
- A one-day workshop is planned in the immediate future for staff members
at the Mission.
- On the 2002 July 20, the student representatives of Tigerkloof School
will be made aware of the forthcoming solar eclipse.
- Jonathan Aitken is to make a personal visit to the local prison and
promote awareness about the eclipse.
- The staff at the Mission are to run workshops in the presence of
Jonathan Aitken as a means of quality control.
- A new project leader will then be elected, as Mr Aitken will be leaving
for the United Kingdom to continue his studies.
- HartRAO is scheduled to run demonstration workshops at Kuruman at the
beginning of September 2002.
North West Department of Education (NWDE), Mothibistad District,
NW Province
- On Friday, 2002 July 12, a report is to be submitted to the NWDE
by the members who attended the eclipse workshop at HartRAO.
- Educators at Galaletsang Science School are to be briefed on the eclipse
awareness programme.
- On Tuesday 2002 July 16, with the reopening of schools in the province,
brief mention of the forthcoming eclipse is to be made.
- On the same weekend, people at a church gathering will be made aware of
the solar eclipse.
- Pensioners at payout points, municipal councilors, student
representative councils and teacher unions are to be targeted in the solar
eclipse awareness programme.
- The MEC for Education in the province will be approached to start a new
"pyramid of educators" to promote education on the solar eclipse.
- The A4 leaflet developed by HartRAO is to be published in "The Kuruman
bulletin" in a joint venture with Moffat Mission trust.
- On the 2002 July 20, a church seminar at Vryburg will provide an
opportunity to disseminate information on the solar eclipse to people from
Taung, Ganyesa, Mafikeng and Kuruman Areas.
- The Dingaka (traditional healers) are to be approached to be partners in
eclipse awareness education as they have a strong influence on the
community.
- Chiefs will be approached to gain access to villagers.
Giyani Science Centre, The University of Venda and Vuwani;
Limpopo
- The Limpopo Province east of the N1 and north of Polokwane (Pietersburg)
will be divided into three sectors, one per centre.
- When schools reopen, delegates who attended the workshop at HartRAO will
report to their colleagues.
- HartRAO will hold a demonstration workshop for curriculum advisors and
principals.
- A report will be submitted to the Premier and the MEC for education in
the province.
- Possible tourism spin offs will be explored.
- The forthcoming total solar eclipse will be workshopped with science
teachers.
- Teacher organizations and NGOs will be targeted for promoting eclipse
awareness.
- A three-hour workshop is to be designed for schools.
- Follow up visits to schools will be undertaken to maintain quality control.
- Radio station slots are to be filled to disseminate information on the
total solar eclipse in local languages.
- The HartRAO A4 page will be translated into Tshivenda and Xitsonga by
two of the delegates.
www.hartrao.ac.za/news/020708eclwkshp/eclwkimp.html
created 2002/07/16 by Science Awareness team, e-mail: visit@hartrao.ac.za