Our poster session will be a dynamic, peer-to-peer interaction centered on how the AVA Challenge fosters transformative STEM learning. We will begin by sparking attendee curiosity with a brief, high-level overview of our mission and the problem we solve. Using visuals on the poster, we'll quickly demonstrate how our initiative uses a design-thinking framework to make space research tangible and exciting for students. The initial conversation will be tailored to each attendee's role, whether they are a teacher, administrator, or instructional designer, ensuring the dialogue is immediately relevant to their needs.
Following this introduction, we'll dive into the core of the program, showing how it empowers teachers to meet ISTE Standards. We'll outline our four-step design framework and explain how it helps educators create learning opportunities that challenge students to innovate. The discussion will focus on the practical implementation of our free resources, allowing for a collaborative exchange of ideas on how the AVA Challenge can be integrated into diverse educational settings.
Finally, we will highlight the tangible skills students gain, directly addressing ISTE student standards. We'll have a device ready to showcase real student work—from research notes to video pitches—demonstrating how they curate information and use a deliberate design process to solve authentic problems. The session will conclude with a clear call to action, providing attendees with a link to our free resources and a personalized plan for getting started, ensuring they walk away with actionable strategies to ignite curiosity and agency in their own students.
After this session, participants will be able to:
Explain how a design-thinking framework can be used to create an immersive, project-based STEM learning experience for students of all backgrounds.
Identify and utilize the free, curriculum-aligned resources of the AVA Challenge to facilitate student engagement with authentic space research problems.
Apply strategies for connecting students with industry experts to broaden their perspectives on STEM careers and inspire real-world problem-solving.
Implement a model for a scalable, low-barrier STEM program that empowers students to take ownership of their learning and develop innovative solutions.
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