Expectations aren’t exactly rocket science … or maybe they are!
In 1998, NASA launched the Mars Climate Orbiter to study the climate and atmospheric composition of Mars. However, as the spacecraft approached the planet, scientists suddenly lost contact.
The problem? NASA’s ground computer was using a standard pounds/seconds system while the spacecraft’s computer was using a more advanced metric-based Newton/seconds system. This simple error resulted in the MCO entering Mars’ atmosphere at the wrong angle and immediately burning up! Because the ground crew and the builders had slightly different expectations, this 327 million dollar project was a complete failure.
This is a great example of why clearly-stated expectations are vital to success. And that’s why this section of my blog focuses on helping teachers and administrators “get on the same page.” Clearly stating instructional expectations and curriculum goals can greatly reduce the potential for misunderstandings and lead to better teaching and learning.
The links below contain simple instructional expectations for English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. Feel free to copy these, modify as needed, and share with appropriate staff. Once your school’s instructional expectations are established, teachers may even want to add the relevant pages to their TESS binders.