Spaceward Bound Program Teacher Component10/4/2015 1 A unique opportunity for teachers to plan and implement high fidelity Moon/Mars analog exploration.

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A unique opportunityfor teachers to plan and implement high fidelity

Moon/Mars analog exploration research

Spaceward BoundTeacher Component

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Who are we?

We are scientists, engineers and educators who are passionate about our work and fervently believe that engaging students in the excitement, intrigue and fascination of exploration in the field will inspire them to become explorers themselves and join our quest to learn more about our earth and the universe beyond.

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• Immerses teachers in authentic NASA exploration research by working alongside scientists in remote and extreme environments

• Develops cohorts of teachers located throughout the country who have significant experience in NASA field research

• Supports the strategy of “go forth and multiply” by facilitating the training of peers by program graduates and dissemination of NASA exploration throughout the country.

Spaceward Bound is aNASA program that…

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• Utilizes the infrastructure of established partnerships and networks to:

– Identify highly qualified program participants with established interest, motivation and pre-requisite experience with science and education

– Infuse Spaceward Bound teacher learning and experience throughout the larger education community (including research)

Spaceward Bound is aNASA program that… (Continued)

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Toward a Pedagogy of Exploration(the theoretical)

• While exploration is often presented as a motivational supplement to curriculum, and components of exploration are taught, no pedagogy of exploration itself exists,

• A true pedagogy of exploration would provide unparalleled experience in affective and cognitive motivations such as curiosity, discovery, bravery, disappointment, tenacity, flexibility, etc.

• Unfortunately, it also requires a synthesis of a significant number of academic disciplines, i.e. “hard” science, “soft” science, and non-science. Modern schools, curriculum and pedagogy are ill-equipped to embrace this synthesis, much less develop content, concepts and skills to teach it.

• The contribution of this expedition to the education community as a whole (including research) and to NASA is the creation of a program which enables the amalgamation of the expertise and experience of teachers with the knowledge, practice and experience of today’s explorers to begin the conceptualization and development of a pedagogy of exploration.

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Program Overview(the pragmatic)

• Spaceward Bound is comprised of national and international expeditions:

1. K-12 teachers work alongside scientists in the field so that they can bring that experience back to their classrooms and assist in the development of pedagogy related to human exploration of remote and extreme environments.

2. Students at the upper undergraduate and graduate level (and teachers) participate as crew members in two-week immersive full-scale simulations of living and working on the Moon and Mars at the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS) in Utah.

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Pilot Year 2006

In June 2006, seven middle school teachers from around the U.S. teamed with seven teachers from Antofagasta, Chile to work alongside scientists exploring the Mars-like soils of the Atacama Desert in Northern Chile.

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American and Chilean Teachers

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Yungay Research Station

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Teachers & Scientists in the Field

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Teachers & Scientists in the Field

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Teachers & Scientists in the Field

Where We’ve Been Since• Flinders Ranges, Australia• Nunavut, High Arctic• Mojave (many times!)• North Dakota• Pavilion Lake, BC• And looking forward to …• Namibia• United Arab Emirates• Hawaii

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Do you …

• Have a passion for exploration, science and scientific research?

• Find exploration science fascinating - particularly the utilization of places here on earth to investigate what it might be like on other planets?

• Like the outdoors and exploring new, remote places?

• Like working with teacher peers, scientists, and informal educators?

• Like discovering and developing new and novel ways to bring authentic science and scientific research into your classroom?

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Mojave Maps

ZZyzx

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Zzyzx Research Station

http://biology.fullerton.edu/facilities/dsc/zz_about.html

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Teacher Learning Content

• Processes of exploration in the field

– Logistics and transportation

– Energy and life support

– Human factors

– Exploration and EVA activities

• Science content and processes

– Mojave science

– Concepts and theories of Moon/Mars analog research

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Lunar• Fresh volcanic basalt flows• Cinder cone volcanoes• Lava Tubes

Mars Astrobiology• Precambrian stromatolites• Desert hypolithic cyanobacteria• Desert microbiology• Soil oxidant• Hypersaline microbial mats

Science Topics in the Mojave

Mars Geology• Dry fluvial features• Sedimentary geology

including jarosite deposits

Other Science• Fossil trilobites• World record hot

temperatures & global warming

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Volcanics

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Providence Mountains

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Soda Lake

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Teachers will:

• In conjunction with NASA scientists, engineers and educators, conduct a field research expedition to the Mojave Desert in Southern California.

• Work with NASA scientists and engineers to perform ground-breaking science and technology research in the field

• Learn and apply current planetary exploration concepts, theories and ideas

• Utilize experience, knowledge, and creativity to determine how to develop pedagogy and methods for bringing field research into the classroom in an authentic, relevant and educative manner

• Actively support and provide training on pedagogy and methods to peer teachers within their schools, districts, communities and beyond

• Mentor subsequent cohorts of Spaceward Bound teachers

• Utilize their learning and experience to support the evolution of the Spaceward Bound Program