Graphical interface adaption for children to explain astronomy proportions and distances

Abstract

Mobile Science Center is a Polish project that seeks to bring astronomy knowledge to wider social groups through various applications. In its development it is necessary to design a graphical interface that explains a concept that is difficult to assimilate such as spatial proportions and distances. This paper develops a framework to create graphical representations that explain this learning to the target audience of children. Important aspects of this interface are the inclusion of storytelling to guide the educational content, along with feedback and difficulty and accessibility adaptations. Regarding spatial representation, previous works highlight the use of shapes and geometric objects, cartographic tools, reference points, and comparison with known velocities and spaces. The graphical interface proposed is based on a decimal system scale that compares traveling at the speed of light with a person walking. There are 4 proposals that represent the units of this scale with different geometric shapes and interrelated structures, in addition to assigned colors and positions. Future development of this project will apply these ideas to identify the optimal graphical interface so children can learn spatial proportions and distances.

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“…In both cases only one programmer/tester was needed, supported by the relevant domain expert (respectively a fireman and a sailor). These applications address various issues related to understanding the Solar System [Mar22a], exploration of celestial bodies, detection of black holes with gravitational lensing, and visualization of constellations from various places on Earth, among others. They all take advantage of the possibility to directly immerse viewers in the visualized phenomena to help them understand its essence and course and are intended for primary and secondary school students.…”