A unique opportunity for teachers to plan and implement high fidelity Moon/Mars analog exploration research

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A unique opportunityfor teachers to plan and
implement high fidelity Moon/Mars analog
exploration research
Spaceward Bound Teacher Component
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Who are we?

• We are NASA 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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Spaceward Bound is aNASA program that

• 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.

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Spaceward Bound is aNASA program that
(Continued)

• 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)

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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 todays
  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 2 expeditions per
  year
• 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.
• 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 NES 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.
• Five student/scientist crew rotations at MDRS
  will take place between November 2006 and April
  2007.

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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
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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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Then we invite you

• To apply to join a science expedition to explore
  and study the Mojave Desert in Southern
  California with
• Spaceward Bound Mojave 2007
• Sponsored by the NASA Exploration Systems Mission
  Directorate
• in partnership with the
• NASA Explorer Schools and NASA Educator Astronaut
  Teachers

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Mojave Maps
ZZyzx
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Zzyzx Research Station
http//biology.fullerton.edu/facilities/dsc/zz_abo
ut.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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Science Topics in the Mojave

• Lunar
• Fresh volcanic basalt flows
• Cinder cone volcanoes
• Lava Tubes
• Mars Astrobiology
• Precambrian stromatolites
• Desert hypolithic cyanobacteria
• Desert microbiology
• Soil oxidant
• Hypersaline microbial mats

• 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 pedagogical content
  knowledge and methods for bringing field research
  into the classroom in an authentic, relevant and
  educative manner
• Actively support and provide training on PCK 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

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Requirements

• Be a full-time credentialed teacher with
  significant teaching responsibilities in
  science/technology - OR - be a full-time employee
  in an informal education organization with
  responsibilities to design, develop and present
  science-related informal education programs for
  K-12
• Have at least 3 years teaching experience in
  either formal or informal education settings
• Graduate degree in either science or science
  education preferred
• Strong interest in thinking about and developing
  pedagogical content knowledge and methods for
  bringing NASA field research into the classroom
• Experience working in teams and leading teams of
  teachers

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Requirements (cont.)

• Experience in developing and delivering
  professional development to peers and beginning
  teachers
• Strong connections with science education and
  science community (e.g. science teaching
  organizations, local museums/science centers,
  etc.)
• Able to fully participate in all-day moderate to
  strenuous activities in a desert environment and
  carry enough water to stay adequately hydrated
  for 8 hours
• Be available for four interactive training
  sessions, prior to the expedition, led by NASA
  and broadcast through the internet beginning in
  January 2007.

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General Information

• Website http//quest.nasa.gov/projects/spacewardb
  ound/mojave2007/index.html
• Applications due end of November
• Selections announced end of December
• 1 1/2 hour pre-trip sessions - one in January,
  two in February, one in March via internet will
  cover topics such as
• Past and current Mojave research
• Moon/Mars analog theory and science
• Field research - design, preparation and conduct
• What to bring, logistics
• Yes, there will be homework! Including group
  work!
• All members of the Spaceward Bound 2007 team will
  communicate with each other frequently via
  email/phone during expedition preparations
• Transportation during the expedition, room, and
  board paid by NASA
• Amount of funding available for transportation
  to/from the Mojave will be known once NASA
  appropriations are made by Congress
• Please note it will not be possible for family
  members or other parties to visit during the
  expedition internet and phone access will be
  available - in moderation!!! All participants
  must stay the the Zzyzx research station.

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Calendar

• Trip dates March 25- March 30, 2007
• March 25 - Arrive at Zzyzx Research Station by
  noon
• March 26 - 30 Fieldwork
• March 30 - Leave Zzyzx Research Station 600 pm

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Post Expedition Requirements

• Journals of field expedition experiences to be
  posted on website
• Plan for leveraging of field expedition
  experiences into classrooms
• Plan for outreach to colleagues - local to
  nationwide
• Written reflection on personal learning, program
  strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations -
  for inclusion in final NASA Spaceward Bound 2007
  Program report

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Application

• General information form
• Recommendation letter from Principal
• Essay questions
• Why are you interested in participating in
  Spaceward Bound Mojave?
• What experiences have you had that have prepared
  you for the Spaceward Bound expedition? (see
  Requirements)
• List educational activities in which you have
  participated or led that would speak to your
  enthusiasm for and experience with bringing
  authentic science into your classroom/organization
  
• How do you envision leveraging the Spaceward
  Bound experience in your classroom/work group,
  school/organization, and through District, State
  and National networks?