No Boundaries Working at NASA is like exploring space; there are no boundaries that define what these professionals do. Becoming a NASA professional is challenging, but it is also achievable. If you have the curiosity, creativity, determination and problem-solving skills necessary, then the opportunities at NASA are limitless.
Project Goals: Groups of four will develop a project that markets four careers one each in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math to teens. Groups can decide how to format their information or they can choose from a list of suggested formats. The class will then take the best of each group s work and create a final project to be entered into the No Boundaries National Competition.
Teacher Overview Appropriate grade level: 7-12 Suggested curriculum areas: math, science, engineering, technology, social studies, language arts and honors courses Applications: Analysis, careers, advertising, competition, cooperative learning, creative thinking, data gathering, design, evaluation, knowledge, marketing, originality, research, synthesis, technology
Teacher Overview Standards: Aligns to national standards for the following curriculum areas BUSINESS LANGUAGE ARTS SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
Teacher Overview Rubrics: Steps 1-2 Exploring NASA Careers Rubric Step 3 Individual Investigation Rubric Step 4 Final Project Rubric
Step 1: Individuals will: Form small groups and review the project overview.
Step 2: Individuals will: Research two careers in the discipline their team was assigned. Reflect on their research and share their insights with teammates. Groups will: Choose one career from the pool of eight to focus on.
Step 3: Each group member will research the career her or his group chose from a different angle. These are: The skills, abilities and personal traits necessary for the job The job s roles and responsibilities The education the job requires The necessity of lifelong learning to the job
Step 4: Groups will: Combine their research. Decide on the format of their project and the information they will include. Design and produce their project. Add their work to that of their classmates to create a final class project. Distribute and/or present their No Boundaries career exploration project to peers and appropriate organizations.
Designing a Presentation: Communicating Career Information
Ideas to incorporate into their presentation: Webpage Podcast Video Blog Ad Interview Newspaper article Checklist Quiz Timeline Tip sheet Bookmark Bumper sticker Advice column Editorial Encyclopedia entry Graffiti Invitation Quotations Song lyrics Traffic signs Dictionary Headlines Post cards Questionnaires Want ads Comic strip Directions Games Recipes Puzzles Slogans Graphs/charts Polls Photo essay Editorial Chapter titles Top ten list Instructions Analogies Journal Symbolism (e.g., road signs on a career highway) Other (their choice)
No Boundaries Competition OVERVIEW: After researching STEM careers, groups will develop and present a project (brochure, website, PowerPoint, newspaper, etc.) that markets their career to teens. Classes will combine each group s best work into a project that can be entered in the No Boundaries National Competition.
No Boundaries Competition JUDGING: Final judging of submissions will be conducted by NASA in conjunction with USA TODAY Education. A panel of judges will select the top three (3) entries based upon: Content - 50% Presentation - 20% Creativity - 10% Supplemental materials - 10% Grammar/spelling and mechanics - 10%
No Boundaries Competition SUBMISSIONS: All entries must be submitted to USA TODAY Education no later than May 2009.
No Boundaries Competition WINNING ENTRIES: Three (3) schools will be selected as winners in the competition and will be awarded education grants for their schools in the amounts of: 1st Place: $1,000 2nd Place: $500 3rd Place: $250 They will be notified no later than June 6, 2008 and will be recognized on the No Boundaries web site. Winners may be asked to present their work to NASA.
No Boundaries Competition TEACHER FEEDBACK: This is a good idea. I like it, and will have the kids in my Engineering Systems class do it on Wednesday of next week. It very definitely ties into the Academy's careers education mission, and is a perfect fit for Physics and Engineering. I also am going to try it out on my Physics I class. Michael E. Montie Physics and Engineering Teacher George C. Marshall High School and Marshall Academy National Winner, NAR Robert L. Cannon Education Award Aerospace Engineering Club Faculty Advisor Technology Student Association Faculty Advisor
No Boundaries Competition TEACHER FEEDBACK: I would definitely use this website. The Science Explorer s group could be used for independent student research into science careers they might be interested in. Students could be assigned a "job" to research and share the data with the class. A rubric would require students to tie the units covered in class with the application in the real world. Lesley Poirier Geosystems/IB Environmental Systems G.C. Marshall High School