Reach For The Star

RevolveLearning: A Journey to the Sun

High-Level Project Summary

Our team took up the challenge, "On The Way To The Sun" and inculcating our diverse skillsets, we, as a team, have developed an educational protean website that aims to inform a younger audience regarding the notable Parker Solar Probe. The primary objective of this website is to innovatively convey the astonishing journey of the probe entering the Sun's outer atmosphere. This built-from-scratch website incorporates a wide plethora of visual and written information through hand-made animated videos, interactive quizzes, and more! As students intrigued by concepts related to space, we wanted to help invoke the same enthusiasm and passion in younger kids through an educational standpoint.

Detailed Project Description

Our aim was to find an efficient way to inform and engage the younger generation regarding the notable Parker Solar Probe. Generally, in schools, children get bored quite quickly when lectures or live sessions are presented as they tend to have short attention spans. As children who've been in a similar situation, we've decided to build a website that counters these issues. Currently, our website provideswritten information, short and to-the-point animated videos, while incorporating free quizzes!


The website, itself, was developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript with an added intent to effectively create free and quick quizzes to evaluate the learner's understanding regarding the respective topics. Additionally, it acts as a platform which includes other activities such as the quizzes and animation videos.


Moreover, we also provide an engaging 3D model of Parker Solar Probe which sparks the interest of the learners. It gives them a chance to perceive the distance, speed, and space accurately. The realistic texture of the planets helps them visualize the planets and its terrain as well. Apart from this, we can also see the Parker Probe, including its main components. To achieve this model, we have used a free and open-source 3D computer graphics software tool called Blender. This platform played a vital role in successfully achieving the 3D simulation of the probe and visualizing the approximate placement of it too.


In our website, we also have videos that aid children in understanding concepts in regard to the Probe's journey to the Sun. These videos provide the pretext and context ranging from fundamental concepts about the Sun to the exigent obstacles the probe had to face while being in the torrid atmosphere. The videos are animated, and include a character that adds a humoristic and inclusive aspect to the website. With the help of Animaker, a renowned video animation software, several learning animations were created to help make learning more enjoyable!


We have categorized the information and videos into respective levels. When the learner completes one video and its corresponding quiz, they can move on to the next level of information. At the moment, there are only four levels initiated, however we are looking to further enhance the website by encompassing more. We plan to generate a points system to keep the younger audience motivated and enthusiastic to learn. Last but not least, we intend to share extended information in a detailed manner on the website for the learner's who desire extra information.

Space Agency Data

  • https://2022.spaceappschallenge.org/challenges/2022-challenges/on-the-way-to-the-sun/resources
  • https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/nasa-enters-the-solar-atmosphere-for-the-first-time-bringing-new-discoveries
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LkaLfbuB_6E&feature=youtu.be
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=XBudjihQKsw&feature=youtu.be
  • https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2018/traveling-to-the-sun-why-won-t-parker-solar-probe-melt
  • https://blogs.nasa.gov/parkersolarprobe/2021/11/10/space-dust-presents-opportunities-challenges-as-parker-solar-probe-speeds-back-toward-the-sun/
  • https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/five-weird-things-that-happen-in-outer-space/
  • https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2019/nasas-parker-solar-probe-sheds-new-light-on-the-sun/
  • https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2020/how-scientists-around-world-track-solar-cycle-sunspots-sun/
  • https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2021/five-questions-about-space-weather-and-its-effects-on-earth-answered/
  • https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/sun/overview/
  • https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/sun/
  • https://blogs.nasa.gov/sunspot/2021/12/14/solar-tour-pit-stop-12-at-the-sun/
  • https://blogs.nasa.gov/sunspot/2021/12/11/solar-tour-pit-stop-9-the-solar-wind/
  • https://blogs.nasa.gov/sunspot/2021/12/10/solar-tour-pit-stop-8-venus/

Hackathon Journey

We entered the Hackathon as first-timers, uncertain but still eager to discover how far our abilities might take us. Even though we faced numerous obstacles, we collaborated cohesively and pushed beyond our abilities, and gained everlasting knowledge.


Throughout the two days, we worried about whether or not we would finish in time. We were unfamiliar with all of the software we used in the project. We had to figure out how to use the platforms and handpick information from tutorials to match our needs. To make efficient use of time, we split up the work and identified our roles and responsibilities. Although this helped us organize our time, it limited our knowledge to only our part. Before we presented it to the judges, we had to ensure that our teammates knew minimal information about the different aspects that we contributed.


We learnt how to communicate effectively with people who have a different perspective than us, and how to peacefully come to a resolution. Individually, we got more insight regarding the different fields of animation and coding languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, 2D and 3D animation. However, at the end of day, we exited the college with more information than we had when we entered, and it was an everlasting experience!

References

Tags

#education #sun #probe #NASA # #solarsystem #art #coding #blender #3Dart