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NASA's Ames
Research Center developed a new curriculum to educate the space
explorers of tomorrow. The Mars Virtual Exploration CD-ROM
results from the efforts of the Educational Multimedia Group
in the Office of External Affairs. The CD-ROM is exclusively
licensed to Modern School Supplies, Inc., of Bloomfield, Connecticut.
For decades,
humans have been fascinated by the mysteries surrounding Mars.
What is it like? Was there ever life? Will we live there someday?
These questions and others inevitably arise whenever the planet
is discussed. This new learning resource presents some potential
answers to these questions and will undoubtedly help to cultivate
an eagerness to learn more about Mars and our universe.
The CD-ROM allows
students to imagine they are residents of a research team at
an advanced facility divided into four different domes. Students
experience how scientists approach planetary exploration through
interactive exercises in ExoPaleontology, Meteorology, Exobiology,
and Volcanology. Once the students have learned the facts and
have consulted with the experts, they select a potential landing
site. Using QuickTimeVRTM software, the students get
a 360-degree view of the potential landing terrain. They are
then able to virtually explore the four available sites and select
the one they feel is best for conducting research.
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The Mars Virtual Exploration
CD-ROM allows students to virtually explore potential landing
sites on the Red Planet. |
The Mars
Virtual Exploration CD-ROM comes complete with a printable
teacher's guide and student logbook. These bonus tools provide
additional content and activities for as many as 15 lessons and
serve as enhancements to the rest of the material presented.
The CD-ROM is
designed to target the interest of fourth through eighth grade
students. Modern School Supplies, Inc. now provides students
with this opportunity to learn about Mars in an interactive hands-on
experience that requires the use of their critical thinking and
problem-solving skills--all very valuable assets when exploring
the Red Planet. After all, with a manned mission to Mars anticipated
for as early as 2018, today's students are tomorrow's astronauts,
explorers, and scientists.
QuickTimeVR™ is a trademark
of Apple Computer, Inc.
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By visiting four different
research domes, students learn about Mars and use their newly
gained knowledge to conduct a virtual exploration of the planet. |
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