Identifying exemplary curricula for effective inquiry in Space Science

1
Identifying exemplary curricula for effective
inquiry in Space Science

• What and where are the best NASA (and other)
  curriculum resources for engaging pre-service
  teachers in space science inquiry?
• How can these curriculum resources be used to
  address questions tied to science education
  standards?

Greg Schultz and Bill Waller AAS/FINESSE
workshop, 3-4 January 2009
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What qualities should curriculum resources have
for effective classroom use?

• What would you list as important curriculum
  qualities?

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What qualities should curriculum resources have
for effective classroom use?

• Do they elicit meaningful questions?
• Do they involve strategies to pursue evidence?
• ? Data collection, organization, and analysis
• ? Interpretation of results
• Do they engage students in creating,
  communicating, defending, and revising
  conclusions?
• Do they encourage identification of new
  questions?
• Do they address different learning modes?
• Do they address science education standards?
• Other qualities?

4
What NASA or other curriculum resources have you
found useful?

• Write down a few space science curriculum
  resources that you think lend themselves to
  active inquiry.
• Share your suggestions.

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Heres what we find

• The Real Reasons for the Seasons (book)
• Private Universe / Minds of their Own (DVD)
• Mars Student Imaging Project (onsite,
  distance-learning, online) http//msip.asu.edu/
  .
• Beyond the Solar System (DVD)
• Space Science Education Resource Directory
  (online) http//teachspacescience.org.
• Contemporary Laboratory Experiences in
  Astronomy (CLEA) http//www3.gettysburg.edu/marsc
  hal/clea/CLEAhome.html.
• Astronomycenter.org at Astro 101 level
  (online) http//astronomyce
  nter.org.
• Center for Astronomy Education at Astro 101
  level (online) http//astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov.

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Further curricular resources

• See your list of Earth and Space Science
  Education Resources
• ? What are worth using?
• ? What are less helpful?
• Are there other exemplary NASA or other
  education resources that would benefit future
  teachers of science and those who prepare them?

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Now its your turn!(Assess the qualities of
curriculum resources)

• Peruse the handouts and other web links.
• Select 2 resources that relate to your state
  space science standards.
• Compare and contrast these 2 resources re
  desired qualities.
• Find scientific questions which the data set(s)
  can address.

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What did you think of your resources?

• Did they elicit meaningful questions?
• Did they involve strategies to pursue evidence?
• ? Data collection, organization, and analysis
• ? Interpretation of results
• Did they engage students in creating,
  communicating, defending, and revising
  conclusions?
• Did they encourage identification of new
  questions?
• Did they address different learning modes?
• Did they address science education standards?
• Other qualities?