New MOOC tests “From Earth to Mars” learning scenarios

To test these learning scenarios, the project ran a MOOC in July. The course was based on a series of simulations and a worksheet, and consisted of two modules, in which teachers put themselves in place of their future students. In the first module, the participant teachers explored the planets’ orbits and the laws required to realise the journey from Earth to Mars, and in the second module the they were asked how the route could be realised with the least amount of fuel consumed. Each section contained steps and an assessment quiz that helped the participant teachers achieve the learning objectives.

During the MOOC, 26 teachers and 22 Scientix ambassadors completed all programme requirements, identified the points that could be difficult to understand for students, and proposed changes and adaptations. Copies of the lesson plans for each participant teacher were created (taking into account their comments) in order to support the second phase of the programme, in which teachers implement the learning scenarios in their respective classrooms.