NASA Moonbase Alpha Educator Guide
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National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA Moonbase Alpha Educator Guide Educational Product Educators and Students Grades 6 - 9 DRAFT version: Not yet approved as official NASA educational content. TABLE OF CONTENTS Lesson Overview ........................................................................................................... 3 Standards Addressed ................................................................................................... 5 National Science Education Standards (NSES) ........................................................... 5 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) ……………………………………………………………...…………..6 Commonwealth of Virginia Standards .......................................................................... 7 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework .......... 11 Teacher Preparation .................................................................................................... 12 Computer Lab Setup .................................................................................................. 12 Pre-Lesson Assessment ............................................................................................ 14 Opportunities for Teachers......................................................................................... 14 5E Inquiry Lesson Development ................................................................................ 15 Outline ....................................................................................................................... 15 Class Meeting 1 ......................................................................................................... 16 Class Meeting 2 ......................................................................................................... 23 Class Meeting 3 ......................................................................................................... 25 Class Meeting 4 ......................................................................................................... 28 About Moonbase Alpha .............................................................................................. 29 Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................... 30 Appendix A: Web Addresses Corresponding to Embedded Hyperlinks ................ 31 Appendix B: Pre- and Post-Lesson Assessment Questions ................................... 33 Appendix C: Teacher Resources ............................................................................... 49 Moonbase Alpha Overview for Teachers ................................................................... 50 EXPLORE Worksheet Answer Keys .......................................................................... 59 Appendix D: Student Resources................................................................................ 72 Moonbase Alpha Overview for Students .................................................................... 73 EXPLORE Worksheets .............................................................................................. 77 EXTEND Mission Logbooks ....................................................................................... 86 NASA Moonbase Alpha Educator Guide 2 DRAFT version: Not yet approved as official NASA educational content. LESSON OVERVIEW This lesson was designed based on the 5E instructional model1 (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate) and it combines aspects of traditional formal education with game-based learning to teach science, technology, and Grade Levels: engineering concepts to students. 6 – 9 Moonbase Alpha is an online game, developed Subjects: through a partnership between the NASA Learning Technologies Program (LTP) and commercial game Physical Science and developers, which serves as a proof-of-concept to Earth Science demonstrate that NASA content – lunar architecture Lesson Duration: in this case – and a cutting-edge game engine can be combined to produce a fun game that inspires Four 90-minute class interest in STEM education. In Moonbase Alpha, meetings commercial-quality gaming technology is combined with accurate physics rendering and real NASA technology to provide a virtual world that can be used to deepen students’ understanding of key concepts and improve their teamwork skills. In the game scenario, a meteorite strikes a lunar outpost on the Moon, disabling critical systems that supply oxygen to the astronauts’ living quarters. Teams of students will be challenged to repair the damaged systems in order to restore oxygen production capability to the lunar outpost. During the ENGAGE section of the unit, students will participate in a class discussion about lunar exploration, followed by an introduction to Moonbase Alpha and a brief demonstration of the game by the teacher. In the EXPLORE section, students will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the game using its free-play mode. Students will learn about the Moon, energy, gravity, life support systems, and the Engineering Design Process through class discussions and by completing independent research. In the EXPLAIN section, students will discuss their research findings within topic groups and present their answers to the class. In the EXTEND section, students will be asked to consider how the concepts they have learned can be applied to the challenge presented in Moonbase Alpha. Students will work in teams to develop strategies for restoring oxygen to the lunar settlement in preparation for playing the game in competitive (timed) mode. After completing the challenge in Moonbase Alpha’s competitive mode, students EXTEND their thinking as they discuss and record what they have learned and modify 1 Appendix A contains the full web addresses corresponding to all hyperlinks in this educator guide. NASA Moonbase Alpha Educator Guide 3 DRAFT version: Not yet approved as official NASA educational content. their strategies for approaching the challenge a second time. In the EVALUATE section of the lesson, students discuss what they have learned about science, engineering, and teamwork within their groups and with the class. The Engineering Design Process is integrated throughout the unit, providing a uniting theme through all of the lessons, and it is reinforced as the students work together to develop and implement a strategy for successfully completing the mission in Moonbase Alpha. Each section of this lesson includes suggested time allotments which were developed based on 90 minute class periods; however, time allotments can be adjusted to fit the needs of various class schedules. Essential Questions What is solar energy and how can it be used on the Moon? Is gravity different on Earth than on the Moon and are there different gravitational forces for different objects? Why or why not? What types of energy are present on the Moon? How can the Engineering Design Process be used to solve real-world problems? Instructional Objectives Students will: Learn about lunar exploration and why it is important for the future of space exploration; Learn about gravity, how it impacts motion on the Moon, and how it is different on the lunar surface than it is on Earth; Learn about energy sources, energy transformations, and how energy relates to supplying oxygen to a lunar settlement; Use the Engineering Design Process to repair damaged systems that produce oxygen for the living quarters for astronauts on a lunar settlement in the game Moonbase Alpha; Investigate multiple strategies to complete the challenge; Use multimedia resources, such as interactive software with graphical interfaces, to demonstrate their proficiency in the use of technology. NASA Moonbase Alpha Educator Guide 4 DRAFT version: Not yet approved as official NASA educational content. STANDARDS ADDRESSED National Science Education Standards (NSES) Science as Inquiry Abilities needed to do scientific inquiry Understanding about scientific inquiry Physical Science Transfer of energy Earth and Space Science Structure of the Earth system Earth in the solar system Science and Technology Understandings about science and technology Science in Personal and Social Perspectives Populations, resources, and environments Natural hazards Risks and benefits Science and technology in society History and Nature of Science Science as a human endeavor Nature of science History of science NASA Moonbase Alpha Educator Guide 5 DRAFT version: Not yet approved as official NASA educational content. International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) Creativity and Innovation Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students: c. use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues. Communication and Collaboration Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students: d. contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems. Research and Information Fluency Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: a. plan strategies to guide inquiry. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions