From: jwee@mail.arc.nasa.gov (Jan Wee)
Subject: Live From Mars Teacher's Guide Preview: Unique Opportunity
Date: Fri, 04 Oct 1996 15:15:06 -0500
Dear discuss-lfm members, Here is the third preview file written by Pat Haddon, or Passport to Knowledge Curriuclum Coordinator. Jan Wee --------------------------------------------------------- Live From Mars A unique opportunity... Live From Mars is an electronic field trip (e.f.t.) that can take you and your students along on one of the most exciting scientific adventures of this decade. But LFM also has the potential to make significant contributions to your students' learning of, and attitude towards, science; advance your own professional growth through exposure to cutting-edge knowledge state-of-the-art technology, and boost your school systems' effectiveness as a valuable institution for 21st Century learning. Ambitious thoughts? High-flying rhetoric? Another educational gimmick? I think not. In fact, I have rearranged my Grade 6 science curriculum over the past three years in order to implement previous Modules from the PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE series of Live From... specials. Live From Antarctica, Live From the Stratosphere, and Live >From the Hubble Space Telescope were all unique, and did not always precisely parallel my course of study. So how was I able to rationalize to students, parents and administrators the "fine tuning" of my curriculum and schedule which was necessary each year to implement an "eft"? Quite simply, the Live From... specials were too good to miss! Let me share my reasoning by listing the following special opportunities which I think Live From Mars will provide: * Live From Mars will make your classroom a place for active student learning * Live From Mars will connect your students to working scientists applying in the real world many of the principles you'll first present to them in the classroom * PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE activities help teachers meet many of the objectives outlined in the National Science Standards (National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council) and the Benchmarks For Scientific Literacy (AAAS/Project 2061) (See matrix pp CHECK in this Guide) * Live From Mars encourages the use of current and appropriate assessment practices (See page CHECK) which will help you meet district and state-wide mandates (for which you probably have no extra books, or budgets, or materials! * Live From Mars suggests relevant, flexible, immediate and practical ways to use new and emerging information technologies. Many schools are in the process of getting wired up to the Net and acquiring the hardware to incorporate the new technology. This major capital outlay will result in close scrutiny on the part of your administration, Board of Education and your community about its application and effectiveness. But too often the software, the content, gets left until last. Live From Mars provides structured, pedagogically sound and SAFE use of the Internet for students * In line with current pedagogical theory and NSF's new initiative to engage parents more directly in their youngster's education, Live From Mars provides an opportunity for extensive and positive public outreach. Many teachers have made parents and community resources part of their previous electronic field trip experience -- extending, enhancing and reinforcing student learning and excitement. And this dynamic multimedia experience affords wonderful opportunities for positive publicity for your class, school and district. A special challenge... Previous PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE Live From... modules could be implemented in four to six weeks. These interactive, multimedia Modules make excellent interdisciplinary units -- with all disciplines enhancing and enriching the science content. Live From Mars, however, differs from the previous Live From... modules in an important and, quite challenging aspect. This electronic field trip will be following several missions to Mars in REAL TIME -- from the launches of Mars Global Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder in November/December 1996 through the touchdown of Mars Pathfinder on the Red Planet on or around July 4, 1997, and continuing as scientists (and students) receive and analyze the data from MPF and MGS on through 1997 and into 1998, at which time new missions should be ready to launch. In short, this electronic field trip -- from launch through landing -- spans two academic school years! The implementation of this unique eft necessitates flexibility in planning; you may find one of the following models suitable for your own situation. MODEL A - TEACHER WILL HAVE CLASS FOR ONE ACADEMIC YEAR ONLY: Follow the suggested timeline for Programs 1 and 2, and complete Activities coordinated with Programs 3 and 5 as a set or preview for the next phases of the missions to Mars. Students should be encouraged to continue following the mission by watching newscasts and other special programs in the summer of 1997, catching up -- if possible -- with broadcasts 4 and 5 on PBS in the 1997-98 school year (broadcast information to be announced), and monitoring the missions' further progress via online and print media reports. MODEL B - TEACHERS IN CONSECUTIVE GRADE LEVELS TEAM UP TO IMPLEMENT LFM OVER TWO-YEARS: For example, if LFM were implemented in grades 5 and 6, the fifth grade (Class A) would complete activities in suggested in the Teacher's Guide for Programs 1-3 during the 1996-97 school year. When matriculated into grade 6 (1997-98), these students (Class A) would review the previous experiences (using Program 4) and continue their Mission to Mars with the activities coordinated with Program 5. The sixth grade (Class B), however, would follow MODEL A. MODEL C - HOME SCHOOLERS OR LOOPING TEACHERS: Implement LFM as detailed in project timeline (See page CHECK) MODEL D - NEW CLASS OF STUDENTS IN THE 1997-98 SCHOOL YEAR (or beyond) Implement Live from Mars as a complete project, utilizing taped broadcast from 1996-97, the printed Guide and online resources. Check out the discuss-lfm archive online to learn what worked best for teachers the year before, and build on their successes! Note: All materials, Teacher's Guide, videotapes, online access, will continue to be available beyond 1997. A special challenge? You bet - but the rewards are worth the effort. And the real winners will be our students. Cordially, >>>SIGNATURE<<< Patricia Haddon Summit Middle School Summit, New Jersey