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About the Project


About the Project

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GOALS OF THE PROJECT...

"From the Ground Up!" seeks to improve the teaching and learning of physical science by engaging teachers and students in hands-on investigations using online telescopes.

GOALS FOR TEACHERS...

A primary focus of the project is to enhance classroom practice—e.g. by enabling teachers to:

  1. Serve more as mentor and less as lecturer
  2. Structure available time for student investigations
  3. Develop a self-sustaining learning community
  4. Guide students in inquiry-driven projects
  5. Encourage student use of resources outside the classroom
  6. Accommodate the varied learning styles and interests of their students
  7. Become more familiar with current science and technology
  8. Explore appropriate uses for online technology in the classroom

GOALS FOR STUDENTS...

"From the Ground Up!" is designed to give students a working knowledge of key concepts in physical science, and to provide opportunities for students to develop independent, inquiry-driven projects.

In addition, the project aims to help students acquire or improve the skills to:

  1. Go beyond scripted activities to develop questions and projects
  2. Determine "What do I need to know?"
  3. Gather and weigh evidence
  4. Create testable hypotheses by building on factual knowledge
  5. Estimate quantities, make measurements, estimate sources of error
  6. Reason from models
  7. Communicate ideas, listen to others, incorporate new ideas
  8. Articulate how facts are related in a framework or story
  9. Develop a personalized understanding meaningful to themselves

GOALS FOR THE PROJECT DEVELOPERS...

A primary goal of "From the Ground Up!" is to assess the appropriate uses of online technology in the classroom—especially the use of remote instrumentation. In addition, the project aims to:
  1. Document improvements in classroom practice that will help curriculum developers to design, in collaboration with teachers, the next generation of curriculum materials.
  2. Develop ongoing, self-sustaining student/scientist partnerships.
  3. Develop better tools for assessing students' understanding and achievement—and for students' self-assessment.