Design Your Own Mars Colony (Flex)

In this highly interactive, eight-week flex course, we will examine what it would take for humans to live on Mars. We will learn about the known environmental conditions on the Red Planet, and what the requirements for human and Earth life are. Learners will design their own colonies based on real life planetary and life science.

In the designs for their colonies learners will consider questions such as:

- How will the colonists feed themselves?
- What will the power sources be?
- How will they obtain water?
- How will they protect from radiation, dust storms and other natural hazards?
- Where will they locate the colony?
- How will they produce air and pressure in the habitats?
- What kind of governmental structure will their colony have?

Each lesson will have a recorded lecture approximately 30-45 min in length, links to up to three additional short videos, and an additional article or piece of written material to read. A weekly scenario will be posed relevant to the lessons material, and learners will have written/recorded homework questions to answer. 

Weekly Scenario:
Each week there will be a hypothetical scenario in which the learners will imagine themselves as colonists or designers of a Mars mission. They will need to come up with a solution based on the material from the week’s lesson. Leaners will discuss amongst each other creative solutions to the problem and vote upon a response. The discussion will be guided by the instructor to encourage critical thought and respectful discourse. 
Participation in the weekly scenario is required. 

Homework:
Several short homework questions are assigned each week. Learners’ responses may be written or recorded. The questions are designed to support critical thought and deepen understanding of the week’s material.  

Final Project (Mars Colony):
Learners will design their own unique martian colonies based on the criteria presented throughout the course.  They have creative options on how to complete the project and will collaborate with the instructor to determine what format works best for their learning style. Students will share their project with their classmates during the eighth week of the course, respond to questions and comments, and ask questions about their classmates’ projects.  

Student-Instructor Interaction:
In addition to interacting with the instructor through questions, discussion, and feedback on homework, the instructor and student will have a weekly check-in to evaluate the learner’s needs and progress together. The instructor is available for “Office Hours” to meet with the learner over video or voice upon request!

Weekly Schedule:

SUNDAY- 
The week’s lesson will be posted on Sunday. It will include: 
Recorded video lectures by the instructor
Individual feedback and followup for the previous week’s assignments
Additional watching and reading material 
Homework assignment
Scenario topic

WEDNESDAY-
Learners post their initial responses to the weekly scenario in the classroom by no later than Wednesday in order to give other students time to respond to them.

FRIDAY-
Weekly assignment
Weekly student/instructor check-in
Learners post their responses to classmates’ scenario discussion posts in the classroom by no later than Friday.

Each lesson will focus on an aspect of the planet Mars and a criterion for human survival. 

Week One – Introduction to Mars and Earth Biology
Week Two – Martian Geologic Features and Human Environmental Requirements
Week Three – Fractional Gravity, Radiation Environment, and Case Studies
Week Four– Martian Planetary Climate and Food Production
Week Five – Atmosphere, Weather, and Energy 
Week Six – Hydrology, Mineralogy, and Other Biological Requirements 
Week Seven – Martian Orbit and Rotation, and Cultural Considerations and Communication
Week Eight – Presentations 

There is no textbook or prerequisites for this class, just a love of learning and curiosity astronomy and STEM. All necessary learning materials will be provided in the classroom. Classes are designed to encourage student engagement and follow their curiosity. 

This is an asynchronous course. There are no live meetings.