One of the initial visions of technology in the Schools for Thought model
was to utilize "virtual" or on-line experts. In this manner, the knowledge
resources of the classroom community is greatly broadened both in scope and
in depth. Students can send outside consultants e-mail messages and in a
short amount of time answers can be waiting as the students log into their
computers. Such a vision has been realized in our model. Students in
Nashville have had access to the Internet, they have been able to FTP (File
Transfer Protocol) sites from around the globe and have downloaded images
of the planet Mars, along with accessing SpaceLink (an on-line service
provided by NASA). All this makes for a very exciting use of the available
technology. The use of electronic mail, FTP, and the World Wide Web is
becoming increasingly available to schools at a rate few could have
predicted a few short years ago. Access to all forms of electronic
communication will only increase as the medium becomes more economical to
use. In answering students' questions over e-mail, some very interesting
issues arise. How directive should the answers be to questions that
students pose? As our content expert explains:
"After a couple of messages from the students, I quickly found myself
switching roles from that of expert to that of tutor. It would have been
very easy to send the students immediate answers to their relatively easy
questions. But if that was the only purpose of being available
electronically, it seemed like a limited use of a great resource. In the
same sense, the students needed to know that I was available and would not
always be answering their questions with more questions. In other words,
it was becoming clear that there were motivational and affective dimensions
to my e-mail responses as well as instructional and cognitive dimensions."
The following examples are presented in order that you may see what an
original message from the students looked like, what the content expert's
response was, and a rationale by the content expert to explain what was
trying to be accomplished with his response.
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14-DEC-1993 13:41:59:82
#7
NEWMAIL
From: CTRVAX::CARVERM
To:PETROSA
CC:
Subj: mission to mars
Is it possible to use parts of powerful airplanes, helicopter, and space
crafts and invent a whole new spacecraft to take to Mars? Why can't we
take an airplanes to space? Jenifer and Tiffany-History
Jenifer and Tiffany,
It is possible to reuse some parts but the problem is they have to be
fitted so well that it would probably be more expensive than just building
one from the beginning. HOWEVER, we can use some parts of
spacecrafts...mainly the huge rockets (especially Russia which still has
really big rockets that may be very helpful for getting out of Earth's
gravity pull! The space Shuttle uses reusable parts as you know. I'm not
sure if we could use much from helicopters or airplanes.
We can't take planes into space as of now, because our airplanes use fuel
(like really good gasoline, jetfuel) and that requires oxygen in order to
burn. As the plane goes higher and higher into the atmosphere, there is
less and less oxygen! You see, the engines would go out! The reason why
rockets can go so high is that they carry their oxygen with them in large
tanks. That's one of the main differences between a rocket and a plane!
Thanks for the great question...hope my answer helps out a little.
.....................................Tony
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In this response, we wanted to encourage the "reusable"
aspects of the students' question. Certainly, reusability has been used
with success on the Space Shuttle. The key aspect to this question,
however, was the more complex idea of using airplanes in space. Having the
students understand the necessity of the rocket needing to carry its own
oxygen, as opposed to the plane using oxygen which is available in the
atmosphere, was a key point that needed to be brought to the students'
attention, especially as they began preparation for their Rocket Benchmark.
For things to burn, they need oxygen. Since there is a decreasing amount
of oxygen in the upper atmosphere, jet planes can only obtain certain
altitudes. The use of wings by the Shuttle is a confusing sight for the
students. The wings serve no purpose while in orbit. It is only upon
re-entry when the Shuttle enters the atmosphere and becomes essentially a
glider that the wings serve their entended purpose.
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14-DEC-1993 13:54:05:16
#11
NEWMAIL
From: CTRVAX::CARVERM
To:PETROSA
CC:
Subj: mission to mars
How much training does it take to become an astronaut? also what type of
excperience is needed?
.....................................
It takes many many years to become an astronaut. Most times it requires a
college degree, a Master's and then usually a professional degree in
something like medicine, biology or engineering. However, there have been
many people who have gone up in space who did not train for long periods
of time.
This will help...get a piece of paper and write a letter requesting the
following information..
NASA marshall Space Flight Center
Educational Services
Marshall Space Flight Center, AL 35812
and request the following items..
1)Astronaut Selection and Training PMS-019(JSC) February 1990
2)Astronaut Fact Book PMS-011B(JSC) november, 1989
also, for an application to become an astronaut write to:
NASA
Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Houston, TX 77058
ask for the factsheet called "Guidance Tips for Aerospace Careers".
Let me know when they come in! I think they'll provide you with a great
amount of information.
.....................................Tony
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This is a very common question and one that has been
answered many times before. No doubt, it will come up up in some fashion in
your own classroom. It was thought that providing the students with the
addresses would be an interesting and exciting way for the kids to get
information about becoming an astronaut. In our experiences, the students
become very excited when packages arrive with their names on the envelopes
and the contents of value for their research. NASA is a wonderful resource
for public domain educational materials and should be utilized as much as
possible by both the teachers and the students. There are also a number of
usergroups on the Internet such as
"astronaut-candidates@sauron.msfc.nasa.gov", although these lists
are fairly well monitored and might not encourage grade-school students'
submissions. Nonetheless, they often provide very valuable FAQs (Frequently
Asked Questions) which make good classroom resources and are easily
obtained by requesting them from the List Server.
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