Submitted by: Denise Green
Collaborators: Darien Fisher-Duke & Susan Little
School: Mills E. Godwin High School
Summary
Students formed collaborative teams to research and evaluate an existing environmental issue. They were then challenged to select the appropriate technology to create an original production to present to their class. Students had to work both in class and out of class to complete this assignment. They chose from the following environmental issues:
• Deforestation and Global Balance
• Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect
• Overpopulation and Earth Ecosystem Services
• Introduced Species
• Beaches and Pollution
• Ozone Layer Depletion
• Urban Heat Islands
• Species Extinctions
• Effect of Oil Spills
Each team had to draw conclusions based on their research and evidence for both sides of their issue and determine the level of threat that is posed to our environment. These findings were then presented to the class via an original presentation, as well as, a written document using the APA format.
TIPC Ratings
This lesson is an example of the Approaching level of Research and Information Fluency. Students determined which digital tool(s) they would use in order to assemble and present their issues. While developing their product, students had to evaluate and use unbiased information or explain the biases that were discovered. Students learned how to use library search tools and data bases in order to use advanced research tools to obtain current information from scientific journals (peer reviewed). Students evaluated web sites to locate authors and years updated.
This lesson is an example of the Approaching level of Communication and Collaboration. Students provided evidence of their ethical communication skills in the projects that they created. All students shared their information with their peers while some shared their works globally through WikiSpaces. In collaborative teams, students created original works. These works evaluated the need to solve ecological global problems.
This lesson is an example of the Approaching level of Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Using multiple resources, students determined the impact of their issue on our world. Suggestions were made for improvements in human activities in order to better protect our resources. The open-ended question of what will happen to our world if ecological issues are not improved was answered by each research group. In determining the world leader on each issue, students evaluated solutions to real world problems of environmental degradation.
This lesson is an example of the Approaching level of Creativity and Innovation. As student groups developed their presentation product, creative skills were used to include attention grabbing techniques. Suggestions for improving our environment were provided in each product. Several products could be used as teaching aids in high school biology classes.
Student Artifact
