What
lies out there in the distance? And what lies beyond? How did it all begin? Are
we alone in this vast universe? These questions have occupied human beings
throughout history and continue to do so today. The Space program invites
you to "touch" the heavenly bodies and learn of worlds that are
different from, yet very much the same as, our planet Earth.
You
will learn about the origin of the universe, the development of galaxies,
various processes in the solar system, and the birth and death of stars. In the
learning environment, you will also have an opportunity to "touch" the
technology and scientific research that have accompanied space travel from its
earliest days, as well as to join an effort that is common to us all - the
attempt to decipher the riddle of the universe.
With
its combination of an extensive knowledge base which includes the planets of our
solar system, the sun, galaxies, constellations, stars, and the universe with
project-oriented investigations and provocative ideas for creative writing, the Space
program provides a focused, interactive environment for exploring phenomena in
the universe.
The
rationale
The
rich learning environment of Space is aimed at providing Middle and High
School students and other interested individuals with the skills associated with
gaining knowledge about the universe, galaxies, solar systems, planets and their
satellites. The knowledge base of the program concentrates on seven major themes
that are inherent in a study of the universe: The Big Bang theory,
Universality of the Laws of Physics, Organization of the Universe, Scale and
Measurement, Changing locations of Celestial Bodies, Evolution of scientific
theories, and Earth.
The
objectives of the program are:
- To
provide students with the skills associated with dealing with different
concepts of time - a year, a month, a day, and becoming acquainted with the
relationship between our concepts of time and the motion of objects in the
universe.
- Help
students achieve an understanding of the theories and models of space
phenomena.
- The
students will learn about the location in space of various types of objects,
and the hierarchy of structures in the universe.
- To
provide students with the skills of dealing with large units of measurement
- scales of distance: the light year and the astronomical unit.
Highlights
- A
rich multimedia knowledge base about the universe, the bodies in it, tools
used in studying them, and the highlights of astronomical research past and
present.
- 36
entries presented in the form of written text, narration, photographs,
sounds, animated sequences, and full-screen video segments.
- Research
projects, Internet-based activities, and writing assignments that focus on
the information presented in the program.
- An
electronic glossary provides definitions of terms and concepts found in the
knowledge base, and hypermedia links take you to related information.
- Direct
access to external productivity tools -- a word processor, a drawing
program, presentation software, and a spreadsheet.
Direct
links to related Internet sites.
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