Its science fiction premise takes students to a newly operational international space station where they become a part of a worldwide effort to rescue alien life forms. To accomplish this goal, students must learn about the planets and large moons of our solar system by searching existing databases and designing probes to gather additional information. Alien Rescue engages students in sustained, cooperative problem-solving, and encourages the development of robust knowledge. While the primary learning objectives of Alien Rescue focus on astronomy and space travel, the program offers ties to other areas of the curriculum, including life science and mathematics. Alien Rescue contains a rich variety of tools, including a database of information on our solar system, a probe design tool, a notebook, tutorials, and access to expert modeling of problem-solving.
Instruction begins with the presentation of a problem situation.
Students work in teams to identify problem constraints, form hypotheses, collect and analyze data, and develop a solution plan. PBL causes a shift in the roles of both students and teachers. Because students identify a need for certain information and skills, they become active seekers of knowledge, as opposed to passive recipients. The teacher no longer needs to be the sage on the stage, responsible to deliver information and make sure students learn it. Instead, he or she becomes the guide on the side, helping students find the information and learn the skills they need to solve the problem.