Rendezvous
with a
Comet

Welcome

The Problem

Your Task

A Sample

The Process

Participation

Assessments

Conclusion

Reflection

Resources

Credits

 

Design a Space Alien


Assessments

There will be three assessments of your work using a set of clear guidelines called rubrics to determine the score of each team. Assessments will consist of the following:

  • The teacher will assess the content and style of the written report.
  • Students will assess each others' delivery of oral reports.
  • Students will assess the performance of other members of their team.


GUIDELINES FOR WRITTEN REPORT

(Click here for a printer-friendly version of the written report scoring rubric.)

Students will work with two objectives in mind – to create a written report and then deliver the main contents of that report in an oral presentation to the class. Before beginning work on the written report, students should be familiar with how its various components will be scored. Below are two scoring rubrics that will be used to assign point values to various parts of the written report.

Content Areas
A well written report will contain a labeled paragraph that:
The Problem
  • clearly describes the problem
The Planet
  • includes a picture or drawing and an accurate description of the planet
  • includes a statement about any extremes in conditions that can affect life forms
Space Alien
  • gives a detailed drawing of the space alien
  • corresponds to information provided in the adaptations section of the report
Adaptations
  • explains accommodations relating to the five human senses
  • explains how these senses are adaptations to the environment
References
  • makes appropriate use of reference to give credit due to others
  • includes four or more references

Written Report Style: In addition to the written report's content requirements, additional writing and expression requirements apply. These deal with the style of the written report.

Style Areas
 A well written report will:
Clarity
  • be easy and interesting reading
  • show evidence of regular review and revision
  • provide examples as appropriate
Accuracy
  • have no major errors of fact
  • have very few minor errors of fact
Completeness
  • consist of statements that are important to the topic
  • explain key ideas fully
Depth
  • fully address main factors that make the topic important
  • show evidence of using several major critical resources
Punctuation, Grammar & Spelling
  • contain an insignificant number of punctuation errors
  • contain few grammatical errors
  • contain no spelling errors
Format & Appearance
  • be produced using a word processor or computer
  • use appropriate font, font size, line spacing, and border areas
  • have good general appearance

 

GUIDELINES FOR ORAL REPORT

(Click here for a printer-friendly version of the oral report scoring rubric.)

Following the completion of the written report, teams will begin work on making an oral presentation of the content of the written report. Before beginning work on the oral report, students should be familiar with how its various components will be scored. Below is the scoring rubric that will be used to assign point values to various parts of the oral report.

Aspect
 A good presentation will:
Introduction
  • contain a complete and well-organized overview statement.
Completeness
  • address all required written report elements
Organization
  • be well organized
  • move from general topics to specific details
Participation
  • have everyone sharing equally in the presentation
Speaking Skills
  • give detailed explanations
  • be easily understood
  • have presenters who maintain eye contact with the audience
Visual Aids
  • contain visual aides that help audience members understand the presentation
  • have visuals with neat and professional appearance
Technology
  • use technology to make the point
  • not be overwhelmed by technology
Questions & Answers
  • have all team members able to clearly and accurately answer questions



GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS

(Click here for a printer-friendly version of the peer scoring rubric.)

Following the completion of the written and oral reports, team members will score one another's individual contributions in relation to the work of the group. Below is the scoring rubric that will be used to assign point values to various elements of your contributions.

Element A good team worker will:
Contributions to Research
  • carry out assigned or agreed-upon duties
  • carry out assigned or agreed-upon duties on time
  • follow rules of social engagement
  • make effective use of time
  • share equally in the work to best of his or her ability
Contributions to Report Writing
  • carry out assigned or agreed-upon duties
  • complete assigned or agreed-upon tasks on time
  • share equally in the work to best of ability
Contributions to Oral Report Preparation and Presentation
  • carry out assigned or agreed-upon duties
  • complete assigned or agreed-upon duties on time
  • provide adequate input in preparation for presentation
  • share equally in delivery of the oral presentation
  • know and present content area well

Support for program number HST-ED-90285.01-A was provided by NASA through a grant from the Space Telescope Science Institute, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Incorporated, under NASA contract NAS5-26555.

Copyright (c) 2007 Challenger Learning Center at Prairie Aviation Museum and Challenger Learning Center of Northwest Indiana. Staff of Challenger Learning Centers and instructors of classes involved with Challenger Learning Center missions may reproduce this WebQuest guide for classroom and educational purposes. Otherwise this work may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transcribed, in any form or by means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the copyright owners.

This page is based upon the WebQuest model.

Last updated 7/16/2007