for teachers, schools and parents
testimonials
Sonali Abey,
Rowntree Montessori School
Heidi Corley,
Lynn-Rose School, Canada
Quincy Jones,
Ellerslie School, Barbados
a teaching community
connect with educators around the world to share ideas and questions as your students complete the course
"The portal was very useful especially as it was our first time doing a project of this scope. Meeting and discussing the project with other teachers was really helpful."
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Junior School Teacher Qatar
student progress tracking
easily follow your students' progress with our online interactive grade book and guides
step by step how-to guides
follow student progress
on-demand TV channel for webinar catch up at any time
classroom gradebook
online teacher webinars
nominate and reward your students
"My students and I learned and discovered together. As a teacher, it was a heartwarming opportunity."
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Secondary science teacher, UK
summary of course benefits
explore & discover
learn about everything from pollution to experimental design and the world of environmental sciences, through online course and interactive webinars
design & conduct
design your own unique surveys, supported by curriculum-linked guidance, then collect data using the Ellipsis Earth app, independently or in teams
analyse &
question
dig into data and statistics to identify patterns, calculate results and compare impacts, then speak with science experts about their research and your results!
broadcast & impact
develop your own creative communication pieces to share your key messages with your chosen audience. Then share the impact of your work with the world!
at-home or classroom learning
suitable for remote learning, timetabled lessons or as an after-school activity, includes all exercises, quizzes and audio and video materials, online submission and marking
individual or team exercises
mix of solo and group tasks to develop independent thinking and teamwork skills
international curriculum-aligned content
for KS3/4, GCSE, iGCSE, AS/A Level, IB, Extended Essay and Y1/Y2 courses
cross-curricular learning
STEM, geography, language, media, arts, IT and more:
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environmental science​
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survey methodology
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scientific research skills
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experimental design
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maths and statistics
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geography and mapping
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creative arts and languages
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multimedia science communication
tailored for junior, middle, senior or HE students
supporting material for all abilities
extra-curricular skills development
develop environmental stewardship and global citizenship across all academic levels
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creates eco-conscious environmental ambassadors
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empowers young people and develops agency
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enhances solutions-based focus, critical thinking skills, leadership and confidence
self-guided learning
complete at your own pace, from 9 to 90 days - students collect credits as they work through the course in their own time, with waypoints and check-ins at each milestone
become certified Ellipsis Earth citizen scientists
contribute to real-world scientific research
awards and prizes available
certificates for participation, completion and excellence
sign up to our upcoming webinars
"The students loved being able to see the locations of their data on the maps - especially in satellite view which made the information much more real to them.
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It has inspired quite a few of our students to realize and understand they can become changemakers at their age."
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Senior School Teacher, Costa Rica
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upcoming courses for 8-18+ yrs
Spring 2022
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who are Ellipsis Earth?Ellipsis Earth is a UK-based sustainable startup specialising in technology-driven data collection - in short, we developed a computer system to make environmental surveying more accurate, easy, safe, fast and reliable than traditional data collection methods. Check out our tech page here. Our founder is award-winning science-communicator and former educator Ellie Mackay - you can read more about her here. She is super proud of her incredible team of scientists, engineers and storytellers who have brought Ellipsis Earth’s work to life. We are passionate about using this data to tell better stories, paint better pictures, and drive greater change; ultimately making the planet healthier and happier and its people more informed, educated and more engaged in environmental solutions. An ‘ellipsis’ (‘...’) is used in text where there is information missing, or where there is an uncertain ending… our goal is to fill in the knowledge gap and write a better future for ourselves and our planet. With knowledge, we can...
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what is the Ellipsis Educate programme?Our bespoke ‘Educate’ programme is a complete online learning system designed to teach students about data collection, surveying and scientific experiments, and then allowing them to take part in their very own Ellipsis Earth data collection as citizen scientists. Surrounding this is a whole range of educational materials about pollution, recycling, litter, materials and product design, data analysis, storytelling and science communication. Students work through the course in their own time, to become contributors to a global dataset and, through our impact-driven projects, environmental changemakers. The key elements of our Educate programme are: explore & discover learn about everything from pollution to experimental design and the world of environmental sciences, through online course and interactive webinars design & conduct design your own unique surveys, supported by curriculum-linked guidance, then collect data using the Ellipsis Earth app, independently or in teams analyse & question dig into data and statistics to identify patterns, calculate results and compare impacts, then speak with science experts about their research and your results! broadcast & impact develop your own creative communication pieces to share your key messages with your chosen audience. Then share the impact of your work with the world!
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what are your online courses?Our online courses are built to be self-guided and encourage independent learning, with a range of different features. Key features of our online courses: complete online course includes all exercises, quizzes and audio and video materials, live webinar platform, online submission and marking at-home or classroom learning suitable for remote learning, timetabled lessons or as an after-school activity individual or team exercises mix of solo and group tasks to develop independent thinking and teamwork skills international curriculum-aligned content for KS3/4, GCSE, iGCSE, AS/A Level, IB and IB Extended Essay, and Y1/Y1 HE content: environmental science​ survey methodology scientific research skills experimental design maths and statistics geography and mapping creative arts and languages multimedia science communication cross-curricular learning STEM, geography, language, media, arts, IT and more tailored for junior, middle, senior or HE students supporting material for all abilities extra-curricular skills development develop environmental stewardship and global citizenship module-based and self-paced students collect credits as they work through the course in their own time, with waypoints and check-ins at each milestone self-guided learning complete at your own pace, from 9 to 90 days academic enrichment and skills development across all academic levels develops global citizenship and environmental stewardship creates eco-conscious environmental ambassadors empowers young people and develops agency enhances solutions-based focus, critical thinking skills, leadership and confidence become certified Ellipsis Earth citizen scientists contribute to real-world scientific research awards and prizes available certificates for participation, completion and excellence In addition, our courses include access to our LIVE WEBINAR series: global audience connect with schools, students and teachers around the world internationally renowned expert speaker panel representation, diversity and inclusion across a wide range of STEM subjects and industries on-demand streaming watch live in multiple time zones, or catch up at your convenience dedicated teacher webinars available throughout the programme or on request interactive learning experience students can ask live or presubmitted questions presentations of student work in global showcase example webinars: ask a scientist! find out anything you ever wanted to know about life as a research scientist, careers advice and inspiration be a factfinder! get to grips with a different specialist topic each week, from biodegradable materials to public engagement bust those myths! delve into the big misunderstood topics and be able to explain them once and for all! get help with your data! ask the specialists about your own research projects and hear their advice and suggestions for your own research
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what are the benefits of taking part?for students develops multiple non-assessed skills including teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, learning through failure, resilience, independent thinking, planning and responsibility ​develops eco-minded individuals and gives them the tools to better understand the issues and solutions, as well as the ability to communicate their findings with more impact builds self-confidence and ability in STEM subjects and encourages exploration of new topics and subjects​ encourages creative expression and develops a sense of pride and inclusion for all students​ delivers representation of diversity and inclusion in STEM careers, redefining STEM roles and ways to make a difference​ a fun, engaging, different and memorable way to learn about a wide range of topics from experimental design and statistics to multimedia production, all with a tangible focus and output for teachers 3-9 weeks of educational content with complete teacher guidance and support throughout​ all-inclusive course including detailed lesson guides, schedule suggestions, example workbooks, answer sheets, and automated online grading and submission portal.​​ differentiated with extension, stretch-and-challenge, scaffolding and support content provided​​ online forum and teacher-only webinars for collaborating with global educators, sharing best practice and cross-curricular CPD​​ tips and tools for getting the best out of your students and encouraging guided independent learning​ for schools opportunity to be part of a global community of participating schools​ global recognition as an Ellipsis Earth citizen science partner​ inclusion in named partner schools group ​ opportunity for inclusion in social media and press coverage​ curriculum enrichment across a range of disciplines​ opportunity to connect and collaborate with your wider community​ fosters a culture of eco-wellbeing among your students, staff, parents and wider community for the planet reduction of environmental pollution through litter clean up and removal​ reduction of new littering due to long term behaviour change​ creation of a generation of youth guardians for the environment​ fewer harmful materials ending up in the natural environment​ less impact on biodiversity, populations, habitats and ecosystems​ wider positive impacts on agriculture, clean water, public health and global economy​ helping to achieve UN SDGs, leading to a healthier, happier planet!
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who can take part?The Ellipsis Educate programme is open to everyone - individuals, classes, schools or groups (such as schools groups or local eco-groups). The course content is aligned to international curriculum topics, so it suits school students of different ages, however anyone with an interest in environmental issues and learning about communicating their data can take part. We run different age groups concurrently - junior for 8-14 year olds, middle for 12-16 year olds, and senior for 16-18 year olds. We also have a higher education programme for HE colleges and university students - to find out more click here.
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how do I sign up?Booking is now open for our Spring 2023 course, with advance registration for our summer 2023 course coming soon. You can book here or submit your registration for custom pricing if you are a whole school or group. Teachers or school administrators can sign up individually or as a group, please contact us if you would like to join as a school or group of schools.
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how much does it cost?Our courses start at £35 per student for an individual license. This includes full access to the online portal, download and use of the Ellipsis Earth app, all online educational course content, access to the complete live webinar series, and certification for all students completing the course. Teacher and student support is provided as standard to all throughout the course. Class bookings, school bookings or group bookings are discounted - please contact us today to find out more. We are currently offering an earlybird discount of 40% off for the first 500 bookings for Spring 2023. Book here today.
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can I have a free trial?Our courses are not currently available as a free trial, however we offer discounted pricing for Earlybird bookings for all teachers interested in testing our platform. Group or class bookings include a free teacher account which includes access to the teacher forum, community support hub and online guidance, to ask any questions you have about the course and to hear from other participating teachers from around the world. In addition, we offer an online teacher info webinar where you can ask questions and find out more before you book. Register your interest here to receive more details about this webinar. Earlybird discounts of 40% off are available for the first 500 bookings for the February 2023 course. Book here today.
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when does it take place?Ellipsis Earth runs three open Educate courses per year, one starting in October, one starting in February and one starting in May. Students can participate in the course in their own time, taking from 9 to 90 days. Click here to book one of our upcoming courses. Ellipsis Earth also runs bespoke courses to fit specific dates if required, as well as private courses for a custom group of students which includes private access to our scientist webinars and dedicated student presentation days. Submit a request here for more information about our bespoke courses.
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how long does each course take?Students can participate in a course in their own time, taking anything from 9 to 90 days. Most students complete the course in 30-45 days depending on frequency and time spent each week on the modules. The courses run as a 'long course' which take place during term time, starting in February, October and May, and are usually delivered part time over 9-12 weeks. The courses are also available as a full time 'short course' during our digital summer and winter camps, where students collaborate globally over 3-4 weeks to complete the whole course during the summer or winter break. Course content is the same for both courses. Overview of course timings: Online course requirement: junior 8-10 hours total middle 12-16 hours total senior 18-24 hours total HE: custom timings Survey time requirement: ranges from 1hr - 12 hrs depending on frequency and duration of survey methods chosen. Average time spent surveying is 3-5 hrs over 1-3 weeks. Webinar time requirement: 6-8 x 1 hour webinars, delivered over 8-10 weeks Communication piece time requirement: Minimum 2 hours, can be as long as you like Average total time to complete the entire course (over maximum 90 days): junior: approx. 18 hours middle: approx. 20 hours senior: approx. 30 hours HE: custom timings Please note these are average and approximate timings only - students may work at their own pace and can therefore complete the course more or less quickly than these suggested timings depending on their availability, workload and familiarity with the topics.
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when is the deadline for signing up?Our next course runs in February 2023: Earlybird deadline (40% off): first 500 bookings Standard deadline: 15th December 2022 Late deadline (5% late fee): 30th January 2023 Course opens: 6th February 2023 Certificates and awards: From 7th May 2023 Book and pay today via this link.
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how many students can participate?There is no limit to the number of students who can participate. Several of the exercises in the online course have optional teamwork elements, which work best in small groups, but the course can also be completed independently. The more students are involved at the same time, the greater the sense of global community and the more results students will have to compare and discuss. Note students do not have to be physically present to participate as a team - they can work remotely as a group. We offer discounted pricing for more than 5 students if booked together; this includes family bookings, class bookings, school bookings or school consortia bookings. Click here to enquire about discounted pricing for multiple students.
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can I participate at another time?The upcoming February 2023 course is open to all students and schools to participate together. If you cannot participate at this time, if you would like to deliver the course in your own schedule, or if you would like exclusive participation for your school(s) only, Ellipsis Earth offers tailored courses to fit your own timing and content. Click here to find out more about pricing and availability for bespoke courses.
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who is this suitable for?The Ellipsis Educate platform is suitable for all students aged 8-18+, from any country. The course is especially designed to incorporate elements of STEM curriculum topics, principles of real-world scientific methodology, environmental awareness, critical thinking, creative arts and connection to natural systems, as well as fostering social responsibility and ambassadorial approaches to environmental wellbeing. Our courses suit any student who is curious about the world of STEM outside the classroom, any student who wants to build confidence in STEM subjects, language and knowledge, or any student who wants to apply multidisciplinary skills to environmental issues. Our courses are accessible for students with a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and circumstances, and suit students with a wide range of academic abilities and interests. We incorporate accessibility throughout our courses and can tailor our courses to particular student needs. If you have any particular questions about your students’ suitability to participate, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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what age group is it for?Our courses are designed for 8-18+ year olds, with three levels of online course material being aimed at junior (8-12), middle (12-16) and senior (16-18) cohorts, plus a higher learning course for HE colleges and universities. All courses cover similar topics and themes with differentiated exercises for a range of academic levels. Our junior courses explore broad themes of environmental awareness and engagement with introductions to scientific thinking and encouraging engagement with STEM and environment, while our middle and senior courses are tailored to curriculum topics and terminology across multiple international disciplines. Our HE courses incorporate tertiary learning content as well as higher level fieldwork skills and independent research. The suggested age brackets are not compulsory, and we have had students as young as 8 taking part in the senior course as a way to challenge particularly high-ability students, similarly we have had sixth form students taking part in middle courses as a way to improve their scientific language skills, for example. Speak to our education advisors today to find out which course would be most suitable for your students.
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what support is there for teachers?The online platform has a dedicated teacher portal and forum for support, guidance and collaboration: privacy-in-mind teacher generated student usernames and passwords automated grading and reporting monitor progress of students, classes, and your school on your dashboard, with individual student tracking and goal-setting range of support teacher webinar, Q&A, lesson guides, extension and support material, answer sheets and case studies teacher forum for sharing best practice and showcasing classwork, connecting with other teachers globally We pride ourselves on providing a fully supportive, accessible environment for educators, who tell us they feel exceptionally well-supported throughout. If you would like to find out more about the support available for educators, school administrators, parents or other staff, please contact us today.
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I’m not a STEM teacher, can my students still take part?Of course! We welcome students and teachers from any subject to participate. Our programmes incorporate STEM, Geography, Creative Arts & Media and IT, and well as economics, citizenship, politics, design and more. Students can participate in scheduled classroom learning but also as an after-school activity or as part of eco-group or environmental club. Previous school leaders of the course have been non-science specialists, for example teachers of art, film, economics, global citizenship.
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how much time do I need to give?Students will be expected to commit an average of 18 to 30 hours depending on their age group and scope of their chosen project. Teachers may accompany students for some or all of this time, but it is likely that the majority can be conducted independently. Teacher/parent commitment is a minimum of around 5 hours over the two months of the programme, but could be higher if desired. For more information or to discuss specific teacher requirements, speak to an Ellipsis Educate team member here.
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how much time do the students need to complete the course?Students will be expected to commit an average of 18 to 30 hours depending on their age group and scope of their chosen project. Students can participate in the course in their own time, taking anything from 9 to 90 days. Most students complete the course in 30-45 days depending on frequency and time spent each week on the modules. Overview of course timings: Online course requirement: junior 8-10 hours total middle 12-16 hours total senior 18-24 hours total HE: custom timings Survey time requirement: ranges from 1hr - 12 hrs depending on frequency and duration of survey methods chosen. Average time spent surveying is 3-5 hrs over 1-3 weeks. Webinar time requirement: 6-8 x 1 hour webinars, delivered over 8-10 weeks Communication piece time requirement: Minimum 2 hours, can be longer Average total time to complete the full course (over maximum 90 days): junior: approx. 18 hours middle: approx. 20 hours senior: approx. 30 hours HE: custom timings Please note these are average and approximate timings only - students may work at their own pace and can therefore complete the course more or less quickly than these suggested timings depending on their availability, workload and familiarity with the topics. To speak to an Ellipsis Educate team member about specific timings, contact us today.
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does this need to be supervised?The Ellipsis Educate courses are predominantly student-led, self-guided and independent, though some teachers choose to lead the course as part of classroom teaching, and for younger students adult supervision or guidance is recommended. The online course modules include a number of exercises which can be supervised or independent. The complete course guide provided to all registrants contains information on the supervision and time requirements of each section of the course. The fieldwork element of the course requires students to collect real-world data. This can be conducted in schools, in local communities or neighbourhoods, or within students’ own homes. There is no requirement to travel or go off-site, although this might be an option at your discretion. We recommend younger students are accompanied by an adult for any surveys which take place in public areas. For more information about survey requirements, please contact us.
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can this be done at home?All our courses can be completed entirely online and remotely for students who are home-schooled or in lockdown, all they need is an internet connection and a wifi/4G-enabled smartphone. In 2020 and 2021 many students participated from their homes and local neighbourhoods. The information pack for registrants contains a breakdown of recommended timings and optional equipment required to complete the course at home. Participation in our courses is an excellent way for home-schooled students to connect with their peers around the world and we welcome students from all education backgrounds.
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what will my students learn?Participating in one of our Ellipsis Educate courses offers a wide range of learning opportunities, covering everything from curriculum content to global stewardship. Examples of some of the course content includes: rethinking plastics recycling and the circular economy materials science and product design fieldwork skills geographical surveying & mapping computer design and AI scientific method experimental design data analysis mathematics for scientific research sampling techniques ecosystem science environmental stewardship global citizenship science communication creative design infographics & scientific storytelling being a changemaker
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what is the app for?The Ellipsis Earth app is a scientific tool for students to submit images from their fieldwork surveys, which are then processed to give detailed data to the students. Students design their own methodology and use the app to collect their data and submit it directly to the Ellipsis Earth platform for analysis. The app is user-friendly, multilingual and available for all devices. Please note the app requires access to location services in order to map student data, your device must have location services enabled via wifi, 3/4/5G or other GPS. The app can be downloaded onto any smartphone or device and each student will have their own login details which are fully GDPR, COPPA compliant and fully secure. Some of the app features: download and go! automated geofencing of your survey no need to manually tag or label software automatically identifies objects in images COPPA & GDPR compliant secure login student friendly design available in multiple languages If a student does not have access to a smartphone they can share a class device or work in a group to collect and share their results, without affecting their experience of the course. If you have any questions about the app or the technical requirements, please contact one of our technical advisors today.
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how do I use the platform?The Ellipsis Earth courses include access for teachers and students to their own dedicated portal for the duration of the programme. The teacher portal contains all student progress, scores, feedback and overview of data and results. Student portals contain each student’s data, answers and work. Students can also work in groups and share their data between groups or classes. The app and portal are both easy to use and navigate. The teacher portal includes a teacher forum to connect with other teachers around the world as well as a support forum for submitting requests or issues to our technical support staff who are on hand throughout the programme, and who can also provide How-To Guides on using the portal, app and education modules. Please note the portal and app adhere to all international guidelines for child safety and GDPR/data protection rules. Students are given unique and anonymised login details to prevent any identifying information being held on our systems. The app and portal automatically reject any non-approved data submissions. When you purchase a license, you will be given a dedicated account with the required number of individual student licenses and a free teacher license (for bookings of over 5 students). Additional teacher licenses are available on request. You will also work with a dedicated account manager at Ellipsis Earth who will ensure you and your students are safely registered and all have the correct access prior to the start of the course. You will also have access to all the how-to guides, teacher support chat and forums from the point of purchase. To find out more about the platform use and requirements contact us today.
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what equipment do I need?The minimum requirements for participation are an internet connection and a wifi or gps enabled smartphone or device to download the app. If you do not have a wifi- or gps- enabled smartphone it is still possible to participate using alternative data collection methods - please contact us to find out more. All additional equipment is fully optional and includes: fieldwork equipment eg 100m measuring tape or distance marker (non-essential as this can be measured using a smartphone) demonstration equipment for sampling methods including baking tray or a large box, coloured beans or beads, paper and string. All information and methods for this demo are provided in the teacher portal with how-to guides and demo videos. The practical exercise is also available as a video for students who do not have access to this equipment. paper, card, colouring pens, craft materials for making creative artwork for the final module of the course option to create other pieces e.g. animations, graphics, video, podcast or website for the creative module - this could require access to computer software, filming or editing equipment (a lot of this can also be done using a smartphone) and is an optional extra if students want to do so. Feel free to contact us to ask about the specific equipment your school has and whether it will be suitable for Ellipsis Educate.
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how is the course assessed?This is a student-led course with teacher guidance. Students complete online modules which are graded and scored according to completion. There are optional opportunities for teacher feedback as well as feedback being provided by the Ellipsis Educate team and the expert speakers. Students receive this custom feedback directly through their portals. Scores for quizzes and tasks are automatically uploaded into the teacher portal for oversight of student progress, with teachers able to add comments for special circumstances, extra support requirements or feedback for the Ellipsis team. Students are also assessed on their final creative communication piece with scoring provided by the Ellipsis educate team, expert speakers, and optional teacher feedback. Scoring is easily completed within the portal. Students must participate in a minimum number of exercises within each module to complete the course: 50% = certificate of participation 70% = Bronze Ellipsis certificate 80% = Silver Ellipsis certificate 90% = Gold Ellipsis certificate Additional awards: Final Project Award Communication Award Innovation Award Junior Citizen Scientist Award Senior Citizen Scientist Award International Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientist of the Year Award Awardees are selected by a panel of Ellipsis Educate team, expert contributors and judges, for students who show demonstrable impact through their participation in the course. The teacher portal contains videos and how-to guides to give guidance on how students can win one of these prestigious awards, along with examples of previous winners. For more information about our awards, please contact us today.
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what do students get for completing the course?Upon completion of the course and sign-off that students have met the course requirements, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Ellipsis Earth that they are officially Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientists. Students who take part in the course but do not complete the course may be eligible for a Certificate of Participation, at teacher discretion. Students who are deemed to have gone above and beyond the course requirements are eligible to be nominated for a Citizen Scientist Award by their teachers. Highest-achieving students will also be considered for individual student awards by the Ellipsis Earth team and may be eligible for nomination for our Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientist of the Year Award. Students must participate in a minimum number of exercises within each module to complete the course: 50% = certificate of participation 70% = Bronze Ellipsis certificate 80% = Silver Ellipsis certificate 90% = Gold Ellipsis certificate Additional awards: Final Project Award Communication Award Innovation Award Junior Citizen Scientist Award Senior Citizen Scientist Award International Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientist of the Year Award Awardees are selected by a panel of Ellipsis Educate team, expert contributors and judges, for students who show demonstrable impact through their participation in the course. The teacher portal contains videos and how-to guides to give guidance on how students can win one of these prestigious awards, along with examples of previous winners. For more information about our awards, please contact us today.
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what is your privacy policy?We follow the strictest standards of privacy rules and we are compliant with international privacy regulations including GDPR and COPPA. Please review our privacy policy and terms of use documentation.
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what is your child safety policy?We follow the strictest standards of safety and we are compliant with international child safety regulations including COPPA. Our child safety policy can be found here.
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where do I find out more?You can contact the Ellipsis Earth team using this contact form, or by emailing info@ellipsis.earth. Click here to learn about our technology services. Click here to learn about our founder and mission. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
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how do I contact the Ellipsis Earth team?You can contact the Ellipsis Earth team using this contact form, or by emailing info@ellipsis.earth.
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I have question that isn’t listed hereContact us for more information and we will get back to you asap.
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who are Ellipsis Earth?Ellipsis Earth is a UK-based sustainable startup specialising in technology-driven data collection - in short, we developed a computer system to make environmental surveying more accurate, easy, safe, fast and reliable than traditional data collection methods. Check out our tech page here. Our founder is award-winning science-communicator and former educator Ellie Mackay - you can read more about her here. She is super proud of her incredible team of scientists, engineers and storytellers who have brought Ellipsis Earth’s work to life. We are passionate about using this data to tell better stories, paint better pictures, and drive greater change; ultimately making the planet healthier and happier and its people more informed, educated and more engaged in environmental solutions. An ‘ellipsis’ (‘...’) is used in text where there is information missing, or where there is an uncertain ending… our goal is to fill in the knowledge gap and write a better future for ourselves and our planet. With knowledge, we can...
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what is the Ellipsis Educate programme?Our bespoke ‘Educate’ programme is a complete online learning system designed to teach students about data collection, surveying and scientific experiments, and then allowing them to take part in their very own Ellipsis Earth data collection as citizen scientists. Surrounding this is a whole range of educational materials about pollution, recycling, litter, materials and product design, data analysis, storytelling and science communication. Students work through the course in their own time, to become contributors to a global dataset and, through our impact-driven projects, environmental changemakers. The key elements of our Educate programme are: explore & discover learn about everything from pollution to experimental design and the world of environmental sciences, through online course and interactive webinars design & conduct design your own unique surveys, supported by curriculum-linked guidance, then collect data using the Ellipsis Earth app, independently or in teams analyse & question dig into data and statistics to identify patterns, calculate results and compare impacts, then speak with science experts about their research and your results! broadcast & impact develop your own creative communication pieces to share your key messages with your chosen audience. Then share the impact of your work with the world!
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what are your online courses?Our online courses are built to be self-guided and encourage independent learning, with a range of different features. Key features of our online courses: complete online course includes all exercises, quizzes and audio and video materials, live webinar platform, online submission and marking at-home or classroom learning suitable for remote learning, timetabled lessons or as an after-school activity individual or team exercises mix of solo and group tasks to develop independent thinking and teamwork skills international curriculum-aligned content for KS3/4, GCSE, iGCSE, AS/A Level, IB and IB Extended Essay, and Y1/Y1 HE content: environmental science​ survey methodology scientific research skills experimental design maths and statistics geography and mapping creative arts and languages multimedia science communication cross-curricular learning STEM, geography, language, media, arts, IT and more tailored for junior, middle, senior or HE students supporting material for all abilities extra-curricular skills development develop environmental stewardship and global citizenship module-based and self-paced students collect credits as they work through the course in their own time, with waypoints and check-ins at each milestone self-guided learning complete at your own pace, from 9 to 90 days academic enrichment and skills development across all academic levels develops global citizenship and environmental stewardship creates eco-conscious environmental ambassadors empowers young people and develops agency enhances solutions-based focus, critical thinking skills, leadership and confidence become certified Ellipsis Earth citizen scientists contribute to real-world scientific research awards and prizes available certificates for participation, completion and excellence In addition, our courses include access to our LIVE WEBINAR series: global audience connect with schools, students and teachers around the world internationally renowned expert speaker panel representation, diversity and inclusion across a wide range of STEM subjects and industries on-demand streaming watch live in multiple time zones, or catch up at your convenience dedicated teacher webinars available throughout the programme or on request interactive learning experience students can ask live or presubmitted questions presentations of student work in global showcase example webinars: ask a scientist! find out anything you ever wanted to know about life as a research scientist, careers advice and inspiration be a factfinder! get to grips with a different specialist topic each week, from biodegradable materials to public engagement bust those myths! delve into the big misunderstood topics and be able to explain them once and for all! get help with your data! ask the specialists about your own research projects and hear their advice and suggestions for your own research
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what are the benefits of taking part?for students develops multiple non-assessed skills including teamwork, collaboration, critical thinking, learning through failure, resilience, independent thinking, planning and responsibility ​develops eco-minded individuals and gives them the tools to better understand the issues and solutions, as well as the ability to communicate their findings with more impact builds self-confidence and ability in STEM subjects and encourages exploration of new topics and subjects​ encourages creative expression and develops a sense of pride and inclusion for all students​ delivers representation of diversity and inclusion in STEM careers, redefining STEM roles and ways to make a difference​ a fun, engaging, different and memorable way to learn about a wide range of topics from experimental design and statistics to multimedia production, all with a tangible focus and output for teachers 3-9 weeks of educational content with complete teacher guidance and support throughout​ all-inclusive course including detailed lesson guides, schedule suggestions, example workbooks, answer sheets, and automated online grading and submission portal.​​ differentiated with extension, stretch-and-challenge, scaffolding and support content provided​​ online forum and teacher-only webinars for collaborating with global educators, sharing best practice and cross-curricular CPD​​ tips and tools for getting the best out of your students and encouraging guided independent learning​ for schools opportunity to be part of a global community of participating schools​ global recognition as an Ellipsis Earth citizen science partner​ inclusion in named partner schools group ​ opportunity for inclusion in social media and press coverage​ curriculum enrichment across a range of disciplines​ opportunity to connect and collaborate with your wider community​ fosters a culture of eco-wellbeing among your students, staff, parents and wider community for the planet reduction of environmental pollution through litter clean up and removal​ reduction of new littering due to long term behaviour change​ creation of a generation of youth guardians for the environment​ fewer harmful materials ending up in the natural environment​ less impact on biodiversity, populations, habitats and ecosystems​ wider positive impacts on agriculture, clean water, public health and global economy​ helping to achieve UN SDGs, leading to a healthier, happier planet!
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who can take part?The Ellipsis Educate programme is open to everyone - individuals, classes, schools or groups (such as schools groups or local eco-groups). The course content is aligned to international curriculum topics, so it suits school students of different ages, however anyone with an interest in environmental issues and learning about communicating their data can take part. We run different age groups concurrently - junior for 8-14 year olds, middle for 12-16 year olds, and senior for 16-18 year olds. We also have a higher education programme for HE colleges and university students - to find out more click here.
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how do I sign up?Booking is now open for our Spring 2023 course, with advance registration for our summer 2023 course coming soon. You can book here or submit your registration for custom pricing if you are a whole school or group. Teachers or school administrators can sign up individually or as a group, please contact us if you would like to join as a school or group of schools.
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how much does it cost?Our courses start at £35 per student for an individual license. This includes full access to the online portal, download and use of the Ellipsis Earth app, all online educational course content, access to the complete live webinar series, and certification for all students completing the course. Teacher and student support is provided as standard to all throughout the course. Class bookings, school bookings or group bookings are discounted - please contact us today to find out more. We are currently offering an earlybird discount of 40% off for the first 500 bookings for Spring 2023. Book here today.
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can I have a free trial?Our courses are not currently available as a free trial, however we offer discounted pricing for Earlybird bookings for all teachers interested in testing our platform. Group or class bookings include a free teacher account which includes access to the teacher forum, community support hub and online guidance, to ask any questions you have about the course and to hear from other participating teachers from around the world. In addition, we offer an online teacher info webinar where you can ask questions and find out more before you book. Register your interest here to receive more details about this webinar. Earlybird discounts of 40% off are available for the first 500 bookings for the February 2023 course. Book here today.
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when does it take place?Ellipsis Earth runs three open Educate courses per year, one starting in October, one starting in February and one starting in May. Students can participate in the course in their own time, taking from 9 to 90 days. Click here to book one of our upcoming courses. Ellipsis Earth also runs bespoke courses to fit specific dates if required, as well as private courses for a custom group of students which includes private access to our scientist webinars and dedicated student presentation days. Submit a request here for more information about our bespoke courses.
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how long does each course take?Students can participate in a course in their own time, taking anything from 9 to 90 days. Most students complete the course in 30-45 days depending on frequency and time spent each week on the modules. The courses run as a 'long course' which take place during term time, starting in February, October and May, and are usually delivered part time over 9-12 weeks. The courses are also available as a full time 'short course' during our digital summer and winter camps, where students collaborate globally over 3-4 weeks to complete the whole course during the summer or winter break. Course content is the same for both courses. Overview of course timings: Online course requirement: junior 8-10 hours total middle 12-16 hours total senior 18-24 hours total HE: custom timings Survey time requirement: ranges from 1hr - 12 hrs depending on frequency and duration of survey methods chosen. Average time spent surveying is 3-5 hrs over 1-3 weeks. Webinar time requirement: 6-8 x 1 hour webinars, delivered over 8-10 weeks Communication piece time requirement: Minimum 2 hours, can be as long as you like Average total time to complete the entire course (over maximum 90 days): junior: approx. 18 hours middle: approx. 20 hours senior: approx. 30 hours HE: custom timings Please note these are average and approximate timings only - students may work at their own pace and can therefore complete the course more or less quickly than these suggested timings depending on their availability, workload and familiarity with the topics.
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when is the deadline for signing up?Our next course runs in February 2023: Earlybird deadline (40% off): first 500 bookings Standard deadline: 15th December 2022 Late deadline (5% late fee): 30th January 2023 Course opens: 6th February 2023 Certificates and awards: From 7th May 2023 Book and pay today via this link.
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how many students can participate?There is no limit to the number of students who can participate. Several of the exercises in the online course have optional teamwork elements, which work best in small groups, but the course can also be completed independently. The more students are involved at the same time, the greater the sense of global community and the more results students will have to compare and discuss. Note students do not have to be physically present to participate as a team - they can work remotely as a group. We offer discounted pricing for more than 5 students if booked together; this includes family bookings, class bookings, school bookings or school consortia bookings. Click here to enquire about discounted pricing for multiple students.
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can I participate at another time?The upcoming February 2023 course is open to all students and schools to participate together. If you cannot participate at this time, if you would like to deliver the course in your own schedule, or if you would like exclusive participation for your school(s) only, Ellipsis Earth offers tailored courses to fit your own timing and content. Click here to find out more about pricing and availability for bespoke courses.
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who is this suitable for?The Ellipsis Educate platform is suitable for all students aged 8-18+, from any country. The course is especially designed to incorporate elements of STEM curriculum topics, principles of real-world scientific methodology, environmental awareness, critical thinking, creative arts and connection to natural systems, as well as fostering social responsibility and ambassadorial approaches to environmental wellbeing. Our courses suit any student who is curious about the world of STEM outside the classroom, any student who wants to build confidence in STEM subjects, language and knowledge, or any student who wants to apply multidisciplinary skills to environmental issues. Our courses are accessible for students with a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and circumstances, and suit students with a wide range of academic abilities and interests. We incorporate accessibility throughout our courses and can tailor our courses to particular student needs. If you have any particular questions about your students’ suitability to participate, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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what age group is it for?Our courses are designed for 8-18+ year olds, with three levels of online course material being aimed at junior (8-12), middle (12-16) and senior (16-18) cohorts, plus a higher learning course for HE colleges and universities. All courses cover similar topics and themes with differentiated exercises for a range of academic levels. Our junior courses explore broad themes of environmental awareness and engagement with introductions to scientific thinking and encouraging engagement with STEM and environment, while our middle and senior courses are tailored to curriculum topics and terminology across multiple international disciplines. Our HE courses incorporate tertiary learning content as well as higher level fieldwork skills and independent research. The suggested age brackets are not compulsory, and we have had students as young as 8 taking part in the senior course as a way to challenge particularly high-ability students, similarly we have had sixth form students taking part in middle courses as a way to improve their scientific language skills, for example. Speak to our education advisors today to find out which course would be most suitable for your students.
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what support is there for teachers?The online platform has a dedicated teacher portal and forum for support, guidance and collaboration: privacy-in-mind teacher generated student usernames and passwords automated grading and reporting monitor progress of students, classes, and your school on your dashboard, with individual student tracking and goal-setting range of support teacher webinar, Q&A, lesson guides, extension and support material, answer sheets and case studies teacher forum for sharing best practice and showcasing classwork, connecting with other teachers globally We pride ourselves on providing a fully supportive, accessible environment for educators, who tell us they feel exceptionally well-supported throughout. If you would like to find out more about the support available for educators, school administrators, parents or other staff, please contact us today.
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I’m not a STEM teacher, can my students still take part?Of course! We welcome students and teachers from any subject to participate. Our programmes incorporate STEM, Geography, Creative Arts & Media and IT, and well as economics, citizenship, politics, design and more. Students can participate in scheduled classroom learning but also as an after-school activity or as part of eco-group or environmental club. Previous school leaders of the course have been non-science specialists, for example teachers of art, film, economics, global citizenship.
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how much time do I need to give?Students will be expected to commit an average of 18 to 30 hours depending on their age group and scope of their chosen project. Teachers may accompany students for some or all of this time, but it is likely that the majority can be conducted independently. Teacher/parent commitment is a minimum of around 5 hours over the two months of the programme, but could be higher if desired. For more information or to discuss specific teacher requirements, speak to an Ellipsis Educate team member here.
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how much time do the students need to complete the course?Students will be expected to commit an average of 18 to 30 hours depending on their age group and scope of their chosen project. Students can participate in the course in their own time, taking anything from 9 to 90 days. Most students complete the course in 30-45 days depending on frequency and time spent each week on the modules. Overview of course timings: Online course requirement: junior 8-10 hours total middle 12-16 hours total senior 18-24 hours total HE: custom timings Survey time requirement: ranges from 1hr - 12 hrs depending on frequency and duration of survey methods chosen. Average time spent surveying is 3-5 hrs over 1-3 weeks. Webinar time requirement: 6-8 x 1 hour webinars, delivered over 8-10 weeks Communication piece time requirement: Minimum 2 hours, can be longer Average total time to complete the full course (over maximum 90 days): junior: approx. 18 hours middle: approx. 20 hours senior: approx. 30 hours HE: custom timings Please note these are average and approximate timings only - students may work at their own pace and can therefore complete the course more or less quickly than these suggested timings depending on their availability, workload and familiarity with the topics. To speak to an Ellipsis Educate team member about specific timings, contact us today.
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does this need to be supervised?The Ellipsis Educate courses are predominantly student-led, self-guided and independent, though some teachers choose to lead the course as part of classroom teaching, and for younger students adult supervision or guidance is recommended. The online course modules include a number of exercises which can be supervised or independent. The complete course guide provided to all registrants contains information on the supervision and time requirements of each section of the course. The fieldwork element of the course requires students to collect real-world data. This can be conducted in schools, in local communities or neighbourhoods, or within students’ own homes. There is no requirement to travel or go off-site, although this might be an option at your discretion. We recommend younger students are accompanied by an adult for any surveys which take place in public areas. For more information about survey requirements, please contact us.
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can this be done at home?All our courses can be completed entirely online and remotely for students who are home-schooled or in lockdown, all they need is an internet connection and a wifi/4G-enabled smartphone. In 2020 and 2021 many students participated from their homes and local neighbourhoods. The information pack for registrants contains a breakdown of recommended timings and optional equipment required to complete the course at home. Participation in our courses is an excellent way for home-schooled students to connect with their peers around the world and we welcome students from all education backgrounds.
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what will my students learn?Participating in one of our Ellipsis Educate courses offers a wide range of learning opportunities, covering everything from curriculum content to global stewardship. Examples of some of the course content includes: rethinking plastics recycling and the circular economy materials science and product design fieldwork skills geographical surveying & mapping computer design and AI scientific method experimental design data analysis mathematics for scientific research sampling techniques ecosystem science environmental stewardship global citizenship science communication creative design infographics & scientific storytelling being a changemaker
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what is the app for?The Ellipsis Earth app is a scientific tool for students to submit images from their fieldwork surveys, which are then processed to give detailed data to the students. Students design their own methodology and use the app to collect their data and submit it directly to the Ellipsis Earth platform for analysis. The app is user-friendly, multilingual and available for all devices. Please note the app requires access to location services in order to map student data, your device must have location services enabled via wifi, 3/4/5G or other GPS. The app can be downloaded onto any smartphone or device and each student will have their own login details which are fully GDPR, COPPA compliant and fully secure. Some of the app features: download and go! automated geofencing of your survey no need to manually tag or label software automatically identifies objects in images COPPA & GDPR compliant secure login student friendly design available in multiple languages If a student does not have access to a smartphone they can share a class device or work in a group to collect and share their results, without affecting their experience of the course. If you have any questions about the app or the technical requirements, please contact one of our technical advisors today.
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how do I use the platform?The Ellipsis Earth courses include access for teachers and students to their own dedicated portal for the duration of the programme. The teacher portal contains all student progress, scores, feedback and overview of data and results. Student portals contain each student’s data, answers and work. Students can also work in groups and share their data between groups or classes. The app and portal are both easy to use and navigate. The teacher portal includes a teacher forum to connect with other teachers around the world as well as a support forum for submitting requests or issues to our technical support staff who are on hand throughout the programme, and who can also provide How-To Guides on using the portal, app and education modules. Please note the portal and app adhere to all international guidelines for child safety and GDPR/data protection rules. Students are given unique and anonymised login details to prevent any identifying information being held on our systems. The app and portal automatically reject any non-approved data submissions. When you purchase a license, you will be given a dedicated account with the required number of individual student licenses and a free teacher license (for bookings of over 5 students). Additional teacher licenses are available on request. You will also work with a dedicated account manager at Ellipsis Earth who will ensure you and your students are safely registered and all have the correct access prior to the start of the course. You will also have access to all the how-to guides, teacher support chat and forums from the point of purchase. To find out more about the platform use and requirements contact us today.
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what equipment do I need?The minimum requirements for participation are an internet connection and a wifi or gps enabled smartphone or device to download the app. If you do not have a wifi- or gps- enabled smartphone it is still possible to participate using alternative data collection methods - please contact us to find out more. All additional equipment is fully optional and includes: fieldwork equipment eg 100m measuring tape or distance marker (non-essential as this can be measured using a smartphone) demonstration equipment for sampling methods including baking tray or a large box, coloured beans or beads, paper and string. All information and methods for this demo are provided in the teacher portal with how-to guides and demo videos. The practical exercise is also available as a video for students who do not have access to this equipment. paper, card, colouring pens, craft materials for making creative artwork for the final module of the course option to create other pieces e.g. animations, graphics, video, podcast or website for the creative module - this could require access to computer software, filming or editing equipment (a lot of this can also be done using a smartphone) and is an optional extra if students want to do so. Feel free to contact us to ask about the specific equipment your school has and whether it will be suitable for Ellipsis Educate.
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how is the course assessed?This is a student-led course with teacher guidance. Students complete online modules which are graded and scored according to completion. There are optional opportunities for teacher feedback as well as feedback being provided by the Ellipsis Educate team and the expert speakers. Students receive this custom feedback directly through their portals. Scores for quizzes and tasks are automatically uploaded into the teacher portal for oversight of student progress, with teachers able to add comments for special circumstances, extra support requirements or feedback for the Ellipsis team. Students are also assessed on their final creative communication piece with scoring provided by the Ellipsis educate team, expert speakers, and optional teacher feedback. Scoring is easily completed within the portal. Students must participate in a minimum number of exercises within each module to complete the course: 50% = certificate of participation 70% = Bronze Ellipsis certificate 80% = Silver Ellipsis certificate 90% = Gold Ellipsis certificate Additional awards: Final Project Award Communication Award Innovation Award Junior Citizen Scientist Award Senior Citizen Scientist Award International Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientist of the Year Award Awardees are selected by a panel of Ellipsis Educate team, expert contributors and judges, for students who show demonstrable impact through their participation in the course. The teacher portal contains videos and how-to guides to give guidance on how students can win one of these prestigious awards, along with examples of previous winners. For more information about our awards, please contact us today.
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what do students get for completing the course?Upon completion of the course and sign-off that students have met the course requirements, students will receive a Certificate of Completion from Ellipsis Earth that they are officially Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientists. Students who take part in the course but do not complete the course may be eligible for a Certificate of Participation, at teacher discretion. Students who are deemed to have gone above and beyond the course requirements are eligible to be nominated for a Citizen Scientist Award by their teachers. Highest-achieving students will also be considered for individual student awards by the Ellipsis Earth team and may be eligible for nomination for our Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientist of the Year Award. Students must participate in a minimum number of exercises within each module to complete the course: 50% = certificate of participation 70% = Bronze Ellipsis certificate 80% = Silver Ellipsis certificate 90% = Gold Ellipsis certificate Additional awards: Final Project Award Communication Award Innovation Award Junior Citizen Scientist Award Senior Citizen Scientist Award International Ellipsis Earth Citizen Scientist of the Year Award Awardees are selected by a panel of Ellipsis Educate team, expert contributors and judges, for students who show demonstrable impact through their participation in the course. The teacher portal contains videos and how-to guides to give guidance on how students can win one of these prestigious awards, along with examples of previous winners. For more information about our awards, please contact us today.
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what is your privacy policy?We follow the strictest standards of privacy rules and we are compliant with international privacy regulations including GDPR and COPPA. Please review our privacy policy and terms of use documentation.
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what is your child safety policy?We follow the strictest standards of safety and we are compliant with international child safety regulations including COPPA. Our child safety policy can be found here.
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where do I find out more?You can contact the Ellipsis Earth team using this contact form, or by emailing info@ellipsis.earth. Click here to learn about our technology services. Click here to learn about our founder and mission. Follow us on social media: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
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how do I contact the Ellipsis Earth team?You can contact the Ellipsis Earth team using this contact form, or by emailing info@ellipsis.earth.
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