The museum of science and industry (MSI) in chicago intends to broaden youth engagement with and learning about NASA research and goals through a new strategic alliance with educators and middle…

The museum of science and industry (MSI) in chicago intends to broaden youth engagement with and learning about NASA research and goals through a new strategic alliance with educators and middle school students in grades 6-8 in chicago public schools (CPS), two challenger learning centers (CLCS) and schools serving students in rural and suburban areas of illinois and two NASA centers. These partners will jointly develop a live distance learning program called missions to mars. The information and technology services division of CPS will provide the technology platform, and manage and coordinate inter-site connections and communications. The office of math and science at CPS will review all materials and ensure that these are aligned with state standards in science education. Marshall space flight center and johnson space center will ensure the accuracy and timeliness of content, and have agreed to provide expert staff that will appear live and interact with students for 30 minutes during each mission to mars event. The challenger center for space education in washington, DC (CLC national) will lead the development of a national dissemination plan for replication of this project among institutions of informal education, schools, and CLCS nationwide. Three 90-minute mission to mars scenarios designed for informal settings will be designed with NASA support. Mission to mars is primarily affiliated with the NASA exploration systems mission directorate; collectively, the scenarios also reflect the goals and activities of the science and space operations mission directorates. Each of the three scenarios will spotlight the research being conducted at a specific NASA center. Scenario 1, planning a mars mission, relates to research carried out at the marshall space flight center; scenario 2, studying mars and earth, reflects the goals of the jet propulsion laboratory; and scenario 3, living on mars, highlights the research of the johnson space center. Complementary pre-and post-program materials for use in classroom will be developed by the partnership. Professional development workshops for teachers and preparatory sessions for NASA scientists and project goals are to: use an interactive videoconferencing platform and educational linkages between MSI, a major inner city public school district, schools serving low income rural and suburban middle school students, and, initially, two CLC S; design, evaluate, and launch three programs that showcase research at NASA centers; promote learning about NASA space missions and enrich middle school curricula with experiences that inspire youth to pursue careers in NASA-related stem, and develop a broad dissemination plan with assistance from CLC national to distribute all materials while assisting project replication among science centers, CLCS, school districts, NASA centers, and other institutions of informal education regionally and nationwide. The following informal science learning outcomes are aligned with the 21ST century science skills map created by the partnership for 21ST century learning and the national science teachers association: increase understanding of why mars is of particular interest to NASA; increase knowledge of exploration challenges wrought by vast distances; increase awareness of the diverse stem careers involved in space exploration; use creative and critical thinking skills; apply technology skills; practice communication and teamwork skills; be actively engaged in acting out mission roles in simulated earth- and mars-based stations; and feel comfortable participating in an interactive video conference. Mission to mars programs are intentionally designed to promote collaborative learning: a strategy that has been identified by multiple researchers to be particularly effective as a pedagogical strategy when engaging at-risk students.