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Space
Explorers - Florida Space Grant Consortium Initiative for
Math, Science, and Technology Education
The Florida Space Grant Consortium (FSGC)
has teamed up with Space
Explorers for an educational initiative in the State of
Florida to promote Space Education. Space
Explorers offers Internet based science programs that
motivate children to learn using methods of discovery, inquiry,
and analysis. The Florida Space Grant Consortium Initiative
for Math, Science, and Technology Education is a project to
improve Earth and Space Science Education in Florida by connecting
student's and teachers with NASA's unique resources.
Through this initiative, 20 schools will
be sponsored for a Space Explorers program. The primary focus
is third through twelfth grade students. Space Explorer's
mission-based programs are grounded in National Science Standards.
They are developed around actual NASA missions and allow students
to receive spacecraft data, experience the excitement of the
learning process, and become involved in the creation of new
knowledge. The mission based programs include:
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Marslink,
based on NASA's Mars exploration program |
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NEARlink,
based on the Near mission to the asteroid Eros |
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Moonlink,
based on the Lunar Prospector mission. |
Each
of these programs contain three phases:
PHASE 1: Educational
Materials and Mission/Research Preparation.
This phase of the program consists of
two parts: the curriculum and mission team selection. The
curriculum has been developed by classroom teachers and is
modular in nature. This allows a teacher to customize the
curriculum to provide the best fit for their class. Each module
contains the curriculum framework, lesson plans, student activity
and student study guides. The curriculum is based on the National
Science Standards and are available for elementary, middle,
and high school classes.
PHASE 2: The
Student Internet Space Mission.
During the second phase, the students
take on the role of the mission team, simulating the launch
and control of the spacecraft via the Internet. The team interacts
live with a Mission Controller who assists them in their mission.
PHASE 3: Research,
Analysis and Reporting.
In the third phase of the program, students
will be given access to the data accumulated by the spacecraft.
They will receive the tools required to perform preliminary
research on the information and have the opportunity to collaborate
with student teams around the world.
For more information, please contact
Dr. Jaydeep Mukherjee (jmukherj@mail.ucf.edu).
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