GSA Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, USA - 2016

Paper No. 156-13
Presentation Time: 9:00 AM-6:30 PM

MARS-LEARNING: AN OPEN ACCESS EDUCATIONAL DATABASE


KOLANKOWSKI, Sophia, Earth and Environmental Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 22 Meadow Lane, Albany, NY 12208 and FOX, Peter, Department of Computer Science, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 Eighth Street, Troy, NY 12180, kolas54@suny.oneonta.edu

Schools across America have begun focusing more and more on science and technology, giving their students greater opportunities to learn about planetary science and engineering. With the development of rovers and advanced scientific instrumentation, we are learning about Mars’ geologic history on a daily basis. These discoveries are crucial to our understanding of Earth and our solar system. By bringing these findings into the classroom, students can learn key concepts about Earth and Planetary sciences while focusing on a relevant current event. However, with an influx of readily accessible information, it is difficult for educators and students to find accurate and relevant material. Mars-Learning seeks to unify these discoveries and resources. This site will provide links to educational resources, software, and blogs with a focus on Mars. Activities will be grouped by grade for the middle and high school levels. Programs and software will be labeled, open access, free, or paid to ensure users have the proper tools to get the information they need. For new educators or those new to the subject, relevant blogs and pre-made lesson plans will be available so instructors can ensure their success. The expectation of Mars-Learning is to provide stress-free access to learning materials that falls within a wide range of curriculum. By providing a thorough and encompassing site, Mars-Learning hopes to further our understanding of the Red Planet and equip students with the knowledge and passion to continue this research.