Frank LaBanca, Maggie Robbins and Mariya Perreault

LaBanca and his colleagues’ innovative teaching idea, “Mars Landing Module,” seeks to develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions for students to learn about space and planetary science while simultaneously engaging them in the engineering process. Students will conduct projects to better understand the geological and chemical features of Mars and will design and construct a functional small-scale model of a Mars landing unit with working sensors and tools. Students will develop a digital media report on Mars, design diagrams of the landing unit, and a Lego-robotics-created model of the landing unit. Students will benefit by having a project-based, hands-on, minds-on inquiry experience where they take control of their own learning by attempting to solve an open-ended problem. This project will develop self-directed learning, problem solving, and innovation skills. With excitement surrounding the exploration of planets within the solar system, comes a need for interdisciplinary STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) teams with expertise from many domains.