Lunar and Planetary Institute






FINESSE

the Faculty Institutes in Earth and Space Science Education

for Community College and University Faculty instructing future teachers

Was held at the AAS Conference on January 3-4, 2009

Agenda

FINESSE essential question 1: How can pre-service teachers be engaged in authentic inquiry activities using genuine Earth and space data?

  • What are the impediments in implementing inquiry-based science instruction?
  • What pedagogical advantages does inquiry-based instruction provide?
  • How can conceptual understanding, gained through inquiry instruction, be assessed?
  • What is necessary for me to implement inquiry instruction using Earth and space data?

Essential question 2: How do we know what we know about our Solar System?

Day 1, January 3, 2009 Day 2, January 4, 2009

8 am            Breakfast, Opening, Essential Question
Overview, initiate collaborative processes

9 am            Carousel of Prior Knowledge: Before and After Galileo
Determining prior knowledge, the first step in effective instruction

9:45  am           Break

10 am          Inquiry in Action
Using Galilean Moon Orbits
Structured scientific inquiry studying the Galilean moons

12 pm          Lunch
Presentation by Bruce Ward, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

1 pm            Create and present inquiry-based posters

1:30 pm            Case Studies of Inquiry
Exploring the nature and different levels of inquiry

2 pm          Inquiry Unpacked
Reflect on inquiry and current participant practices, discover the challenges to inquiry, discuss models of open inquiry that can be used in participant classes

3:30 pm            Locating Useable NASA Data
Discovering the challenges in locating appropriate data, and using data to address questions tied to science education standards

4:45  pm           Review and Discussion

8 am       Breakfast, Discussion
Discuss “muddiest points” and solutions to issues and challenges

8:45 am            Action Planning
Create an experience that will support their future teachers in serving classroom needs?

10:45  am         Break

11 am        Inquiry Unpacked, continued

12  pm         Lunch

12:45 pm          Sharing and Creating Assessment for Inquiry
Review of assessment strategies and creation of assessment tools for use in participants’ action plans

2 pm            Other NASA Resources
Examine selected resources that promote inquiry and reflect best practices

3 pm            Action Planning II
Finalize plans for future implementation

4 pm            Present Action Plan
Share plans and methods with other participants, receive feedback and opportunities for support and collaboration

4:30   pm          Network Planning
Identify desired follow-up and support for the new community, and best paths of communication to support participants’ goals

4:45  pm           Workshop Evaluation

 

Logo for the International Year of Astronomy

Discover the Universe with NASA during 2009, the International Year of Astronomy

FINESSE Team for AAS January 3-4 2009

Christine Shupla, Education Specialist , Lunar and Planetary Institute
Stephanie Slater, Assistant Professor, Cognition in Astronomy, Physics, and Earth sciences Research (CAPER) Team, University of Wyoming
Timothy F. Slater, Excellence in Higher Education Endowed Professor, Cognition in Astronomy, Physics, and Earth sciences Research (CAPER) Team, University of Wyoming
William Waller, Senior Lecturer of Astronomy, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Tufts University

For more information, contact:
Christine Shupla
Lunar and Planetary Institute
3600 Bay Area Boulevard
Houston, TX  77058
281-486-2135
shupla@lpi.usra.edu

To discuss evaluation or share your work , contact:
Janelle Bailey
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
4505 S Maryland Pkwy, Box 453005
Las Vegas, NV 89154-3005
702-895-4756 office
janelle.bailey@unlv.edu