Starlab as an astronomy teaching tool in schools: An engaging curriculum

How planetariums educate young people effectively about the wonders of the universe? Traditional way has led teachers and students to present themselves at the planetariums that provide astronomy related exhibitions, full dome star fields and astronomical shows, as well as special informal educational programs. Their experiences at planetariums are expected to be delivered back to the classroom upon returning school. Starlab is a portable version of mini planetarium that allows astronomy experiences to be taken to the distant or rural areas especially to those underserved teachers and students who could not afford to tolerate the travel expenses to visit planetariums. The Starlab plays a significant role in astronomy and space science education. It serves as an introduction to systematic study of the sky and thus to study science as a whole. For this reason, Planetarium Negara is planning to rent out the existing Starlab for expanding its usage at schools level and to enrich current school lessons at least in astronomical content. This paper describes the use of the Starlab as an astronomy teaching tool in schools