HR: 1330h
AN: ED13D-07    [Abstracts]
TI: Integrating the Teaching of Space Science, Planetary Exploration And Robotics In Elementary And Middle School with Mars Rover Models
AU: * Bering, E A
EM: ebering@mail.uh.edu
AF: University of Houston, Departments of Physics and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Houston, TX 77204-5005 United States
AU: Ramsey, J
EM: jramsey@uh.edu
AF: University of Houston, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Houston, TX 77204-5027 United States
AU: Smith, H
EM: smithh@springbranchisd.com
AF: Spring Branch Independent School District Houston, TX 77055, Department of Instructional Technology 9016 Westview Drive, A100, Houston, TX 77055 United States
AU: Boyko, B S
EM: BSBoyko@Central.UH.edu
AF: University of Houston, Division of Research Research Initiatives, Houston, TX 77204 United States
AU: Peck, S
EM: speck@hermes.tietronix.com
AF: Tietronix Software, Inc, 1331 Gemini St # 300, Houston, TX 77058 United States
AU: Arcenaux, W H
EM: 4space@sbcglobal.net
AF: Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, NASA, Code VA 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058 United States
AB: The present aerospace engineering and science workforce is ageing. It is not clear that the US education system will produce enough qualified replacements to meet the need in the near future. Unfortunately, by the time many students get to high school, it is often too late to get them pointed toward an engineering or science career. Since some college programs require 6 units of high school mathematics for admission, students need to begin consciously preparing for a science or engineering curriculum as early as 6th or 7th grade. The challenge for educators is to convince elementary school students that science and engineering are both exciting, relevant and accessible career paths. This paper describes a program designed to help provide some excitement and relevance. It is based on the task of developing a mobile robot or "Rover" to explore the surface of Mars. There are two components to the program, a curriculum unit and a contest. The curriculum unit is structured as a 6-week planetary science unit for elementary school (grades 3-5). It can also be used as a curriculum unit, enrichment program or extracurricular activity in grades 6-8 by increasing the expected level of scientific sophistication in the mission design. The second component is a citywide competition to select the most outstanding models that is held annually at a local college or University. Primary (Grades 3-5) and middle school (Grades 6-8) students interested in science and engineering will design and build of a model of a Mars Rover to carry out a specific science mission on the surface of Mars. The students will build the models as part of a 6-week Fall semester classroom-learning or homework project on Mars. The students will be given design criteria for a rover, and be required to do basic research on Mars that will determine the operational objectives and structural features of their rover. This module may be used as part of a class studying general science, earth science, solar system astronomy or robotics or as a multi-disciplinary unit for a gifted and talented program. A written report on the science objectives and design features of the Rover is required. The program includes specific learning objectives in research skills, language arts (reading scientific literature, preparing a verbal presentation and writing a report), mathematics, science and engineering.The model will be mostly a mock-up, constructed at a minimal cost (estimated cost of less than $10-$25) of mostly found objects and simple art supplies.
UR: http://marsrover.phys.uh.edu
DE: 0805 Elementary and secondary education
DE: 0815 Informal education
DE: 0820 Curriculum and laboratory design
DE: 5470 Surface materials and properties
DE: 5494 Instruments and techniques
SC: Education and Human Resources [ED]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly