Khagol # 124 - Oct 2020

Online Teachers' Training State level Online Teachers' Trainingwas conducted during August 8 – 9, 2020. The language of communication was Marathi. Purpose of this training was to share knowledge and pedagogical methods to help teachers make teaching- learning experience more effective. The content was Astronomy and Physics included in the school syllabi. About 600 teachers from schools across Maharashtra participated in the workshop. The trainingwas coordinated byRupesh Labade, and Sonal Thorve. Global Hands-onUniverseConference The goal of the Global Hands-on Universe (GHoU – 2020) Conference was to train teachers on the use of modern tools and resources for science education and engage students in international scientific projects, and was conducted online during August 22 – 28, 2020. Also, to promote interactive science projects among different countries and engage educators and students in a global cooperation. Samir Dhurde presented a short talk on Zero Shadow Day, where he explained the occurrence, enlisted ideas and tools to plan a ZSD event. He shared experiences from India, where this has been run as a national campaign by theASI – POEC.As the activity has the capacity for networking astronomy communicators representing 40% of the world's population under one event, appealing participants to help initiate plans of organisingZSDevents, all over theworld. Rupesh Labade conducted a workshop on Use of Technology in Science Education. He shared how simple science toys can be converted into experiments using free android applications or software to learn more about the science concepts. Participants from different countries enjoyed and appreciated theworkshop. Further, an oral presentation on LIGO-India's EPO efforts was given by Vaibhav Sawant on behalf of the LIEPO team. He gave an overview of the unique and diverse LIEPO initiatives undertaken based on the requirements of the project at three levels – local, national and international. Vigyan Samagam Mega Science Exhibition, GW@Home with LIGO-India live online lecture series, teacher's training workshop, pop-up comic book, and the gravity matters, and student blog were some of the topics coveredduring the presentation. The GHoU – 2020 sessions were streamed live on Facebook, and thousands of participants fromdifferent parts of the globe attended the sessions. | KHAG L | No. 124 - OCTOBER 2020 | 13