Sometimes a relatively small, well-timed, deft intervention at the right injection point will set everything working again. A tune-up, a new carburetor: the right injection at the perfect injection point.
We have come along way in technological advances and space travel, but in order to lead the way in future missions, we have to think bigger in education as well.
The Martian Classroom isn't just about space, it's a metaphor for the future of education and where we need to drive the learning space of the future by equipping students to thrive both on and off of planet Earth.
Educators influence the future. The Martians in our classrooms are that future and will pave the way for humanity. What an awesome responsibility we have and they have!
We are just getting started. Let's propel the change rather than waiting for the change to propel us.
Our education system is tied closely to industry; first to agriculture, then to manufacturing, now to technology. In the future, we will continue to build on this technology as we explore Space. We have hardly scraped the surface in keeping up with accelerating technologies. Dell Technologies predicts that 85% of the jobs in 2030 haven't been created yet. What steps do we need to make in order to ensure that our students are prepared for unknown jobs, on and off of our planet?
Not only did these inventions quickly find their way into the lives of Americans, but many of them also produced abundant tax returns for the government itself. The plan catalyzed consumer industries and sent the U.S. economy soaring to unprecedented levels.
The Martian Classroom isn’t just about Space, it’s also a metaphor for the future of education and where we need to drive the learning space for this future. To start, we need to loosen the ties between education and geography, and this needs to happen now. Expanding the classroom to collaborate with classes on the other side of the globe will prepare students for a world that connects work to global talent.
Launchpad
The moon landing was the “where were you when?” moment for not one but two generations. 9/11 was, unfortunately, the next “where were you when” moment for many of us. What was the biggest "where were you when" moment in your generation? What were you doing at the time? What impact did that moment have on the world around you? How did it impact education?
Most of the Martians in today’s classrooms were not born when 911 took place. How do we ensure that the next “where were you when” moment is a victory for humankind and not a tragedy? What role do we play as educators?
NASA has a slew of rocket resources and activities to incorporate in the classroom. Visit https://www.pinterest.com/explore/rockets/ that add the “A” to STEM for some STEAMY activities to incorporate in your Martian Classroom!
What if Martin Luther King had not had the courage to stand up and say something when it mattered most? His, "I Have a Dream," speech was powerful because of his confidence, his message, and his ability to connect with his audience. That is the power we give to students when we equip them with the belief that their ideas matter, and with the toolset to share their message in a way that makes an impact.
One sizeable asteroid can hold $20 trillion worth of minerals. On a smaller, more practical scale, Peter Diamandis estimates that a single 100-foot asteroid can contain as much as $50 billion of platinum. The good news is, we can exploit asteroids without damaging Earth’s environment, and the supply is endless.
66 years separated the Wright Brothers from the Apollo 11 moon landing. The next great frontier is not too far away. The students in today's classrooms will not only witness colonies on the Moon and Mars, they will also be the ones taking on these great frontiers and paving the way for humanity.