The Dutch Black Hole Consortium: How can modern science be used in primary classrooms to aid concept learning and motivate and engage learners from all backgrounds?

The Dutch Black Hole Consortium is a large, interdisciplinary consortium bringing together cutting-edge research from subjects as diverse as astronomy, engineering, and geology to further our understanding of black holes and gravitational waves. At its heart is an ambitious educational project to bring the results into both classrooms and informal learning settings. For primary level, lessons are being created using innovative smart education techniques and will develop lessons using a new didactic approach based on interactive diagrams. This poster gives an overview of the PhD project within the primary education effort. The overarching question is how modern science can be used as a didactic tool to support learners to think scientifically, with sub-questions focussing on i) how interactive diagrams can help to steer concept learning during practical assignments, ii) how the lessons and the digital tool can be modified to motivate and engage learners from all backgrounds, thereby improving learning outcomes, iii) how the formal lesson activities can be modified for use in informal education settings such as educational activities in science museums and, iv) what is the state-of-the-art regarding astronomy education and what are the opportunities for the future? This poster gives an overview of the initial thoughts of a starting-PhD project and aims to trigger discussion and brainstorming during the conference.