 |
Educational Goals and Objectives Astro-Venture Overall Goal
Astro-Venture Overall Objectives
Astro-Venture Structure
Interactive Module Objectives
Interactive Module Educational Standards
(Visit Module Lessons for the specific educational objectives and standards
addressed by the lessons that accompany the Astro-Venture multimedia modules.)
Astro-Venture Overall Goal
Astro-Venture uses astrobiology content, the scientific inquiry process
and critical thinking skills to increase awareness of NASA careers and
to educate students in grades 5-8 on the requirements of a habitable planet.
Astro-Venture Overall Objectives
- Students in grades 5-8 will be able to identify and explain the vital
characteristics of Earth which make it habitable to humans.
- Students will be able to use the process of scientific inquiry to explain
the processes scientists use to find planets that have characteristics
necessary for human life.
- Students will be able to build a planet that has all of the necessary
features to support human survival.
- Students will identify at least one NASA occupation that best fits
their interests and skills and will identify and explain those that they
like
and dislike.
Astro-Venture Structure
Astro-Venture is composed of online, interactive, multimedia modules and
off-line classroom lessons. The story line and technology components
provide the overall purpose and motivation for teaching the standards
and concepts in the off-line lessons. The technology components also
help to connect students' to real science and scientists at NASA
Astro-Venture is divided into five sections or "Research Areas."
- Astronomy
- Geology
- Atmospheric sciences
- Biology
- Design a Planet
The first four sections have the following components:
Training (The "Whats")
In each of these interactive, online, multimedia modules, students make
changes to aspects of our solar system and make observations of the effects
on Earth. They then draw conclusions about the conditions that are required
for human habitation in that science content area. In these training
modules, students learn what humans need in a planet and star system
to survive.
Classroom Lessons (The "Whys")
Off-line, students engage in many classroom investigations in which they
learn why humans need the requirements identified in the Training modules.
These lessons have been developed to meet national education standards
and build on each other to truly teach standards-based concepts such
as: states of matter, systems, the geologic rock cycle, human health
systems and atmospheric composition.
Missions (The "Hows")
After completing the training modules and lessons, students will engage
in interactive, online, multimedia missions to simulate the methods scientists
might use to search for a star system and planet that meet the qualifications
identified in the training modules. In these modules, students learn
how to go about finding a planet that would support human survival.
Design a Planet (Overall Assessment)
Once students have completed the first four sections, they will engage
in the online, interactive, multimedia Design a Planet module in which
they will design a simulated star system and planet that meets all human
survival requirements in all four areas: astronomy, geology, atmospheric
sciences and biology.
Interactive Module Objectives
| Module |
Objectives |
| Astronomy Training Module |
- Students will change different star
types, planet sizes, Jupiter orbits and Earth orbits and will record
their observations of the effects on Earth.
- Students will identify a yellow star, a Jupiter-size planet in
a circular orbit beyond 3AU and an Earth-size planet orbiting in
the
Habitable Zone as necessary for human life.
|
| |
|
| Astronomy Mission Module |
- Given the scientific question, materials
and procedure, students will collect data and will record a prediction
and conclusion of the scientific inquiry process as they simulate the
process used by scientists to find a star system that meets the astronomical
conditions required for human habitability.
|
| |
|
| Geology Training Module |
- Students will change different atmospheric
compositions and will record their observations of the effects on life
on Earth.
- Students will identify nitrogen, ozone, carbon dioxide and oxygen
as necessary atmospheric elements for human life on Earth.
|
| |
|
| Atmospheric Sciences Training Module |
- Students will change different atmospheric
compositions and will record their observations of the effects on life
on Earth.
- Students will identify nitrogen, ozone, carbon dioxide and oxygen
as necessary atmospheric elements for human life on Earth.
|
| |
|
| Biology Module |
- Students will change energy sources
and composition and will record their observations of the effects on
life on Earth.
- Students will identify an energy source, plants, animals and nutrients
as necessary biological elements for human life on Earth.
|
| |
|
| Final Mission Module |
- Given the a scientific question, materials
and procedure, students will record a prediction, data, results and
conclusion of the scientific inquiry process as they simulate the process
used by scientists to send a probe to a planet, collect data and draw
conclusions about the planet's ability to support human biological,
geological and atmospheric requirements.
|
| |
|
| Build a Planet Module |
- Students will correctly choose the
characteristics necessary for a planet to support human life.
- Students
will explain what makes their planet habitable to humans.
|
Interactive Module Educational Standards
Astro-Venture evaluates its multimedia content based on the standards
and benchmarks of the following educational organizations:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science Project 2061 Benchmarks
for Science Literacy. For a complete listing of the Project 2061 Benchmarks,
visit http://www.project2061.org/tools/benchol/bolframe.htm
- National
Science Education Standards (NSES). For a complete listing of the NSES,
visit http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/
- International
Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards. For details about
the ISTE Standards, visit http://www.iste.org/standards/
We distinguish between "meeting" benchmarks or standards, "partially
meeting" them and "addressing" them to alert educators to
concepts that are taught in a lesson or lessons compared to topics or ideas
that we might touch upon but do not really teach. Educators may note that
often several lessons are required to truly teach a concept.
The Astronomy Training multimedia module meets the following educational
standards:
- NSES, Grades K-12, Standard A1
- ISTE, Standards 3 and 5
The Astronomy Training multimedia module addresses the following
educational standards:
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, Benchmark 4A #1
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8,
Benchmark 4B #2
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard D3
The Atmosphere Training multimedia module meets the following
educational standards:
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard A1
- ISTE, Standards 3 and 5
The Atmosphere Training multimedia module partially
meets the
following educational standard:
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard D1.8
The Atmosphere Training multimedia module addresses the following educational
standard:
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, 4B #2
The Geology Training multimedia module meets the following
educational standards:
- NSES, Grades K-12, Standard A1
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard D1.1
- ISTE, Standards 3 and 5
The Geology Training multimedia module partially
meets the following educational standard:
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, 4B #2
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, 4C #1
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard D1.2
The Geology Training multimedia module addresses the following educational standard:
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard D1.4
The Biology Training multimedia module meets the following educational
standards:
- NSES, Grades K-12, Standard A1
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard C4.2
- ISTE, Standards 3 and 5
The Biology Training multimedia module partially
meets the following educational standards:
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, 5A #5
- Project 2061, Grades 3-5, 5D #4
- Project 2061, Grades 3-5, 5E #2
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, 5A #1
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard C4.3
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard F2.1
The Biology Training multimedia module addresses the following educational standards:
- Project 2061, Grades 3-5, 5C #1
- Project 2061, Grades 3-5, 5D #5
- Project 2061, Grades 3-5, 5E #1
- Project 2061, Grades 6-8, 5E #3
- NSES, Grades 5-8, Standard D1.11
The standards and benchmarks met, partially met, and addressed by Astro-Venture
are listed below:
Project 2061 Benchmarks for Science Literacy
- 4. The Physical
Setting
- A. The Universe
- B. The Earth
- C. Processes That Shape the Earth
- 5. The Living Environment
- A. Diversity of Life
- C. Cells
- D. Interdependence of Life
- E. Flow of Matter and Energy
National Science Education Standards (NSES)
- Grades K-12, Standard A: Science as Inquiry
- 1. Abilities necessary to
do scientific inquiry
- Grades 5-8, Standard C: Life Science
- 4. Populations and Ecosystems
- Grades 5-8, Standard D: Earth and Space Science
- 1. Structure of the
Earth System
- 3. Earth in the Solar System
- Grades 5-8, Standard F: Science in Personal and Social Perspectives
- 2.
Populations, Resources, and Environments
International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards
- 3. Technology Productivity Tools
- 5. Technology Research Tools
|
