Using Planetary Data Sets in Introductory Courses: JMARS Erin
Kraal Kutztown University of PA
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Getting Set Up Go to
http://jmars.asu.edu/downloadhttp://jmars.asu.edu/download Initiate
download for windows and install Create an account for yourself
Note for my classes (downloads are done ahead of time, students
have to create an account prior to lab as a homework)
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AST 140 Planetary Science Course Objectives: Upon successful
completion of this course, the students will: Describe the major
physical characteristics and structure of the Solar System Describe
the theories used to understand the formation and evolution of the
Solar System Analyze planetary formation and evolution processes
using quantitative expressions. Design an original research
question, collect data related to that question, and analyze the
results. Capped at 24 students (usually around 14) Diverse range of
students 2 hour lecture, 2 hour lab
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Semester Long Original Research Project: My solution to a messy
problem? Purpose: To identify and propose an original research
question related to Mars then to collect quantitative data, analyze
the data, summarize your findings, and present your results in a
poster. Laboratory Research Project (Total 50% of course grade)
Technique labs (10%) Initial research proposal (10%) Annotated
bibliography (10%) Revised research plan (5%) Progress reports (5%)
Final Poster (10%)
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Timeline: Week 1: Introduction to class/project Week 2:
Background lectures on Mars Week 3: Background lectures on Mars,
Technique Lab #1 (Intro to JMARS) Week 4: Technique Lab #2, (Using
JMARS) Week 5: Technique Lab #3 (Crater counting) Week 6: Technique
Lab #4 (Data bases, other resources), Form research groups Week 7:
Initial research proposal due (see separate assignment) Week 8:
Annotated bibliography due (see separate assignment) Week 9:
Initial data collection due, revised research plan (see assignment)
Week 10: Data collection, project work days Week 11: Progress
report #1 due Week 12: Progress report #2 due Week 13: Initial
results presentation Week 14: Poster abstract due (see separate
assignment) Week 15: Poster draft due (see separate assignment)
Week 16: Poster Session (during final exam period)
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Student Feedback and Results. Student Comments from Week 12 on
official course evaluations: Lab was fun and designing our own
experiment was fulfilling and very compelling. The student
continues under suggestions for improvement, Designing our own
experiment was also difficult and often times I felt a lack of
direction or absence of legitimate game plan when conducting our
own research. However, Dr. Kraal was very helpful during these
times. Doing an autonomous research project from start to finish
was the entire extent of our lab course. It was very beneficial to
have done this process, even on such basic ideas, howeverI feel
like this lab (research project) was extremely misplaced for an
intro course, and I feel that what I did (and other groups
projects) did nothing to reinforce key principles or ideas that
were taught during the course. That being said, I think I would
have been better suited with an actual lab discourse that
punctuated curriculum topics. The research project is daunting! In
no way did I expect this basic astronomy of the solar system class
to turn into an original research project on [unclear word]. I feel
the project was good, but should be offered as a higher level of
astronomy. This course is not required, but was chosen from a
required pick one of the following block; so in essence it was also
an elective. More than 50% of the students reported substantial or
exceptional progress for 9 out of 12 of the IDEA objectives. For
example, in response to progress on the objective Learning to apply
course material to improve thinking, problem solving, decisions
(Q3), 100% of students reported progress. One student reported
slight progress, 2 reported moderate gains, 1 reported substantial,
and 4 (or 50% of the class) reported exceptional/outstanding gains.
Two students ended up submitting abstracts and presenting posters
at NE GSA and one project is continuing on for future work and
submission for peer review. All students completed the course and
project (except 1)
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JMARS JMARS (Java Mission-planning and Analysis for Remote
Sensing) Java based, free, downloadable GIS system for Mars, Lunar
and terrestrial (ASTER) data sets.
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Mars Plight of a pip squeak
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lowhigh Hellas OM
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This map shows the distribution of all unburied martian craters
greater than 15 km in diameter located between 65 latitude.
Approximately 60% of martian terrain units are densely cratered and
thus very old. The remaining 40% of the units are sparsely
cratered, indicating a relatively young age. Crater Distribution
and Surface Age
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Outflow Channels and Valley Networks on Mars Outflow channels =
Red Valley networks = Yellow
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Liquid? Houston, we have a problem Current Mars
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Hellas OM
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Extreme Seasons: What does this mean for the Polar Caps on
Mars? North PoleSouth Pole
