Dr. Sharon Mistretta
Digital Literacy
Interview Kosciuszko Project Director
June, 2015
This paper documents my interview of Robert Adams, Project Director for the New York State Department of Transportation’s Kosciuszko Bridge Project. I contacted the Public Relations Liaison for the Kosciuszko Bridge Project, Christine Holowacz, in hopes that I would be able to talk to one of the engineers on the current replacement of this bridge. I covered the Kosciuszko Bridge during my Computer Applications class this past semester at Immaculate Heart Academy as an example of a “truss” bridge. I wanted to maintain continuity in my own studies of engineering design and wanted to ask more in depth questions about this bridge. I was very pleased to have my email forwarded by Ms. Holowacz to Mr. Adams, who is the Project Director
of the current replacement of the Kosciuszko Bridge. The interview took place on Thursday, June 18th via a phone conversation.
June, 2015
This paper explores the intersection of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math standards toreveal the unifying effect that problem solving and engineering design have across STEM disciplines. I have used a Bridge Design lesson plan that I am currently implementing in my Computer Applications class at Immaculate Heart Academy as a basis for demonstrating thisintersection of standards in the STEM curriculum.The Common Core Math Standards (National Governors Association Center for BestPractices, Council of Chief State School Officers 2010), State of New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards -Technology (State of New Jersey; Department of Education 2014) and theNext Generation Science Standards - Disciplinary Core Idea Arrangements. (Next GenerationScience Standards 2015) were utilized for comparison.
Electronic Portfolio
July, 2014
This paper represents an aggregate of lesson plans, rubrics, formative assessments, case studies and student artifacts that fulfill the objectives of the NASA Endeavor Astronomy and Space Science course. This collection is archived in an electronic portfolio contained on the author’s website, sharonmistretta.com within the Portfolio menu option and the Lesson Plans webpage. This portion of my teaching portfolio outlined within this document seeks to demonstrate the effective implementation of NASA astronomy data while improving content knowledge in astronomy and space science. Additionally, the three dimensions of the Next Generation of Science Standards (NGSS) are taken into consideration while lessons have been planned. The Nature of Science (NOS) matrix and the Nature of Math (NOM) matrix as outlined by NGSS are used in lesson strategies.
Project-Based Learning - Color the Universe
July, 2014
This paper investigates the pedagogy components of Project-Based Learning (PBL). The Hubble Sight/Insight: Color the Universe lesson plan is being examined as a strong example of PBL. This plan is evaluated based on its alignment to the PBL process, usability in the classroom and relevance to the Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) courses that the author is teaching to high school students. The information collected in this study will be used as a basis for lectures conducted by the author to high school students in grades freshman through senior year. The “5E” instructional model introduced in the NASA Endeavor STEM Methods course and reinforced in the Astronomy and Space Science course is being utilized as the PBL process.
Anthropocene
July, 2014
This paper represents the culminating engaging context, data integration lesson plan to fulfill the four subject areas, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math being discussed during the NASA Endeavor STEM Methods course in May through July, 2014. This lesson plan incorporates the “5E” model of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The five “E” verbs are Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate/Extend and Evaluate. The purpose of this plan is to provide a teacher guided investigation to engage students by gathering evidence to answer the question, “Is there a correlation between the irreversible melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, rising sea level trends and the devastating water damage incurred in the aftermath of these devastating storms?” Additionally, this investigation is being conducted as a viable basis for a lesson plan that adheres to The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the tenets of the Nature of Science (NOS) and the Nature of Math (NOM).
Kepler Space Telescope Mission Review
June, 2014
This paper explores the mission, objectives, equipment and scientific discoveries of the Kepler Space Telescope. Kepler is NASA’s first mission to survey a region of the Milky Way galaxy to discover habitable planets like our Earth. The mission has established clear evidence of a large number of exoplanets, planets outside of our solar system, that are orbiting other stars in our galaxy. The information collected in this study will be used as a basis for lectures conducted by the author to high school students in grades freshman through senior year. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) lesson plans using the NASA Exoplanet Archive will continue to be developed to expand students’ knowledge in the subject of Astronomy and Space Science.
Engaging Context Data Integration
June, 2014
NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project:
This paper documents the results of a ten day data collection of ocean levels in two areas of the United States that were seriously damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012. The purpose of this study is to provide evidence to answer the question, “Is there a correlation between the irreversible melting of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, rising sea level trends and the devastating water damage incurred in the aftermath of these devastating storms?”
Analysis of the Tenets of Nature of Science and Nature of Math
May, 2014
NASA Endeavor Science Teaching Certificate Project:
This paper explores a New York Times article published in May of 2012 concerning the study of the rise of ocean levels as a prime example of a resource that helps students understand the Nature of Science and the Nature of Math.
My Master's Thesis
Educational Change:
Effectively Implementing Technology
in the Classroom of the Third Millennium
