Engaging high school students to remote laboratories: the case of the μNet project

Abstract

Abstract The microNet (μNet) project aims at the development of an extended network of educational cosmic ray telescopes in the geographical area of western Greece. In the initial phase (2022–2023) of the project, 20 telescopes will be deployed in high school buildings, while more than 50 schools will attend the educational program of μNet by distance, using the remote operated extensive air shower (EAS) detection stations and astroparticle-physics experimental devices deployed at the Hellenic Open University (HOU) campus. A pilot run of the μNet project started in 2020 for the deployment and operation of a small school network of cosmic ray telescopes in the prefecture of Achaea where the HOU is located. Although the original design of the pilot run included mainly activities that are carried out in person, due to the COVID-19 pandemic the remote operations of the μNet project gained focus, advancing the corresponding distance learning activities and remote laboratory methodologies. In this report we present the design of the pilot project, the remote experimental procedures followed during the run and discuss the results and the findings concerning the students’ and schoolteachers’ receptiveness of our methodology.