Participation

The teachers participating in the ASC professional development and field-testing the activities should:

  1. Uses themes in astrobiology to teach complex thinking and to challenge students with current issues and investigations from developing scientific areas.
  2. Improves understanding and use of effective science inquiry methods focused on interdisciplinary science.
  3. Contextualizes science in students' lives by embedding instruction in their interests, experiences, and skills.
  4. Develops language and literacy across the curriculum in a way that promotes student competence in science.
  5. Determine how astrobiology concepts map to national science standards.
  6. Teaches through instructional conversation and engages students in discussion through dialogue.
  7. Motivates students to pursue science and math courses by identifying and promoting traditional and non-traditional career opportunities in the STEM areas.
  8. Increase the use of sophisticated and engaging technology in the classroom.
  9. Increase the use of NASA-resources including web-based astrobiology materials found on NAI and other NASA sites.
  10. Increase the public’s understanding of the nature of science and its interrelationships with technology and society.

Students of teachers participating in the ASC professional development and field-testing the activities should learn cross-curricular content while developing skills in research and problem solving.

Students Engaged in Hands-on Investigative / Research / Field Activities

Students Engaged in Problem-Solving Activities

Follow prescribed steps in the ASC module/lesson

Practice routine computations/algorithms

Apply computer software and interesting technological tools in the analysis of real scientific data sets

Determine if a problem was well defined; Reflect on readings, activities, or problems individually or in groups

Design or implemented their own investigation in science/mathematics

Reflect on examples of problems and their solutions

Work on extended investigation/project (a week or more in duration)

Recognize patterns, cycles, or trends

Record, represent, and/or analyze data

Work on solving a problem presented with real data from scientists

Interpret data to draw conclusion

Apply scientific/mathematical principles or strategies in solving new problems

Work on model or simulation

Formulate conjectures to generalize problems

Participate in fieldwork

Students Focus on Proof and Evidence

Engage in role play or debate

Reflect on methods of proof in science/mathematics

Play a game to build or review knowledge/skills

Evaluate the validity of arguments or claims

Demonstrate a high degree of scientific and technological literacy

Test a hypothesis or conjecture and develop a formal argument