Morehead State University
The Space Movie Project: Digital Movie Making for Innovative, Real World Thinking
Institution
Morehead State University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Rebecca Roach
Abstract
The Morehead State University (MSU) College of Education collaborated with the faculty of the College of Science & Technology, MSU Space Science Center, MSU Center for Regional Engagement and Kentucky Dataseam to facilitate a two-day workshop, online learning community and ongoing in-school support for 74 students (50% females) from counties in Eastern Kentucky. Through the use of cutting edge technology, in both desktop movie making and research tools, high school science and technology teachers, and students from rural, impoverished schools were given an opportunity to work with Science Education professors, Space Science engineers and educational technology specialists to teach their students to research and record digital documentaries. These documentaries were later showcased on the “larger than life” ceiling of The Digital Star Theatre, a 100 seat multi-function, state-of-the-art digital classroom. This mixed-method study analyzed movie rubric scores to measure impact on student learning. It also conducted surveys with students and teachers to measure the project's impact on instructional practices. Interviews with participants were conducted to describe the impact on student career and college choices, and science departments' astronomy programs. Survey data were also collected on student college and career choices related to STEM fields. 21st century skill integration is crucial to college and career readiness in middle and high schools. The results of this study are significant to their applications toward project-based learning in the classroom.
The Space Movie Project: Digital Movie Making for Innovative, Real World Thinking
The Morehead State University (MSU) College of Education collaborated with the faculty of the College of Science & Technology, MSU Space Science Center, MSU Center for Regional Engagement and Kentucky Dataseam to facilitate a two-day workshop, online learning community and ongoing in-school support for 74 students (50% females) from counties in Eastern Kentucky. Through the use of cutting edge technology, in both desktop movie making and research tools, high school science and technology teachers, and students from rural, impoverished schools were given an opportunity to work with Science Education professors, Space Science engineers and educational technology specialists to teach their students to research and record digital documentaries. These documentaries were later showcased on the “larger than life” ceiling of The Digital Star Theatre, a 100 seat multi-function, state-of-the-art digital classroom. This mixed-method study analyzed movie rubric scores to measure impact on student learning. It also conducted surveys with students and teachers to measure the project's impact on instructional practices. Interviews with participants were conducted to describe the impact on student career and college choices, and science departments' astronomy programs. Survey data were also collected on student college and career choices related to STEM fields. 21st century skill integration is crucial to college and career readiness in middle and high schools. The results of this study are significant to their applications toward project-based learning in the classroom.