fandomhigh | Intro to the 21st Century, Tuesday, Second Period

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intro to 21st century

Intro to the 21st Century, Tuesday, Second Period

"So, your final is in two weeks," Cindy said when class began, having asked everyone to meet her in the Danger Shop again. "Next week, we'll have a review session, so please come to class with your notes and some questions prepared. Today, however, we're going to take some time to learn a little more about the changes in two major areas of science: aviation, which opened up this world to us, and spaceflight, which may open up the solar system to us in as little as the next few decades."

With the touch of a few buttons DC's National Air and Space Museum appeared in front of them. "We have an hour," Cindy said, "so feel free to explore, but make sure to catch at least a few of the exhibits, okay?" And then she made shooing motions with her hands. "Go forth! Learn! Have fun!"

[OCD up. Finally]

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In flight!

Cally

Elphaba Thropp

Warren Worthington III

There's a lot to do!

In case you wanted to pair up and converse or something.

This exhibit (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/attm/enter.html) tells the historic story of human exploration of the Moon by the United States.

(An online exhibit)

This exhibit (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal111/universe/index.htm) examines how our ideas about the Universe evolved as we developed new astronomical instruments.

(Also an online exhibit)

This exhibit (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gps/) examines the history, development, and current applications of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

(Also online. Because they're all online. Because otherwise, they'd be lame.)

This exhibit (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/lae/css_gal110.htm) explores the technology of aerial and space observation and its many uses.

There are plenty of other exhibits (http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/online.cfm) to explore, too. Feel free to make subthreads to enjoy.

In case the exhibitions weren't enough, there are some other ways to learn!

With a combination of demonstrations, experiments, and hands-on activities to assist in the learning process, learning labs (http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/schoolgroups/learninglabs.cfm) are taught by Aerospace Educators-in-Residence on a variety of topics.

Test your knowledge of geography (http://www.nasm.si.edu/ceps/gaw/) by identifying geographic locations on the Earth based on a satellite or aerial image and a brief clue.

Edited 2011-04-05 17:34 (UTC)

This was the sort of geography Cally was used to, and combining it with what she'd picked up in her World History course made for an interesting exercise.

She was not telling Dolf the part where she incorrectly identified Gelderland as Holland, though.

Learn how scientists study planets (http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/cybercenter/planets/cybercenterfull.htm) with three levels of interactive assignments.

If he's around.

She is!

Having confided previously in her professor, Elphaba thought her the perfect person to ask about some of her recent confusion. It had just been compounded with the lingering half-memories of the weekend, though that was all hazy and unclear to her.

She cleared her throat politely to get her instructor's attention. "Miss Perrault?"

Cindy stepped away from the exhibit she'd been looking at, giving Elphaba a friendly smile. "Elphaba, what can I do for you? Enjoying the museum?"

"I am, actually," Elphaba said. "The idea of flying has always appealed to me. But I actually wondered if I could ask something not related to today's class. About myself, actually."

"Sure, absolutely," Cindy said. "I'll do my best to answer. What's up?"

"I recently found that there's a book," Elphaba explained. "About the land that I come from, Oz. Well, that's not true, I was told there was a story in this world about Oz back when I first came. But now I've read it and it seems very... I'm not sure how to understand the idea that my world is treated as just a children's story. Let alone whether I or a descendant of mine might be part of that story."

And Cindy's mind went completely blank. Idly, as if from a distance, she was glad that Elphaba hadn't started with a question about being a character from a book. She might have reacted--well, overreacted--without thinking to a question like that.

"I'm familiar with the story," Cindy said, playing for time. Boy, was she. Friggin' Ozma... "Or one of the stories, at least. I can't swear this is the absolute truth--" because it wasn't at all "--but I have a theory, at least, of how this might be possible."

"You were familiar?" Elphaba said, tilting her head. "You did not wish to tell me about it?"

That was suddenly more intriguing to her than Miss Perrault's possible theory.

"The movie is a major cultural phenomenon," Cindy said gently. "It's hard to grow up in America--" or just live there for a really long time "--without having seen it at least once."

Saaaaay, when it had first been released in theaters, for example.

"But you are not the only person this had happened to," she added. "Prince Arthur of Camelot and Professor Holmes and Doctor Watson came here to find themselves written of in books. Honestly, though, it wasn't that I didn't want to tell you about that, I wasn't sure if I should or how you would take the news. It strikes me as being a very confusing thing to go through and you still seem like you're trying to find your feet."

"It is confusing," Elphaba said, with a sigh. "Especially after this weekend where... I have no idea what was going on, and the only solid memory I have is being married to a scarecrow and that seems like the most ridiculous thing I have ever contemplated. Like a mad fever dream, only making this all more confusing."

"This weekend was...very different than anything I've seen yet," Cindy agreed, trying not to look troubled. Her memories of the weekend were...interesting, to say the least. "I don't believe one has to do with the other, really."

She frowned and shook her head. "In a way, they do, actually, now that I think about it," she said. "Both the movie--or the books, depending on which you saw--and the weekend showed things about what may be your future, correct? But 'may' is the operative word for both."

Damn you, LJ, for sucking!

All the links in the OCD are interactive, but part of the Smithsonian so totally SFW

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Intro to the 21st Century, Tuesday, Second Period

Sign in (Week 13)

Re: Sign in (Week 13)

Re: Sign in (Week 13)

Re: Sign in (Week 13)

Explore the Museum

Explore the Museum: Wander and Chat

Explore the Museum: Apollo to the Moon

Explore the Museum: Explore the Universe

Explore the Museum: GPS: A New Constellation

Explore the Museum: Looking @ Earth

Explore the Museum: Other Exhibits

Learning Activities

Learning Activities: Learning Labs

Learning Activities: Geography From Space!

Re: Learning Activities: Geography From Space!

Learning Activities: Exploring the Planets

Talk to the TA

Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

Re: Talk to "Professor Perrault"

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OOC