If you’re in need of a fabulous 21st Century cross-curricular learning experience for everyone involved—one you and your students will remember for a long time to come—then definitely check into scheduling an e-Mission with the Challenger Learning Center at Wheeling Jesuit University!

Last year I had the opportunity to facilitate the Hurricane Alert! e-Mission with B-A sixth grade teachers and students, and simply put, “It was the bomb!” (as quoted by one of our very own hurricane experts!) The project was so awesome that we are in the process of planning two additional e-Missions this spring, including Cyber Surgeons—a scenario in which students become a rapid response trauma team aboard a Mercy ship traveling up the Amazon.  The Mission? To save the natives from an unusual disease!

So, what exactly is an e-Mission? Basically, it is a simulated, problem-based, learning adventure delivered right into the classroom via distance learning technology. With the use of the Internet and videoconferencing equipment or Skype, this “live” scenario is conducted in your classroom by a Flight Director at Mission Control. Yes, it really is as super cool as it sounds!

Not only can you check out the the video the BAMS Tech Club students created to document our “Mission” (it’s embedded to the digital poster shown below), but be sure to take a look at the e-Missions official web site to learn about how you can give your students a day of learning they will never forget!

Click on the “Glogster” icon to preview the media in full screen mode.

Just in case the video on the Glog doesn’t open, you can check it out below.

Classroom Connection:

An e-Mission is an innovative, hands-on way to engage students in the power of math, science and technology while collaborating and critically thinking to problem solve a variety of “real life” crises.  It doesn’t get more 21st Century than this… Really!

For additional information regarding e-Missions and/or to schedule a program for your school, contact Kathleen Frank, Assistant Director of the Challenger Learning Center.  Trust me, you won’t be disappointed!