Education Commons^™

Raising Student Awareness Of Environmental Issues Via Writing Assignments With Differential Equations, Michelle L. Ghrist

CODEE Journal

In this paper, I discuss two environmentally-focused writing assignments that I developed and implemented in recent integral calculus and differential equations courses. These models of carbon storage and PCB’s in a river provide interesting applications of one-compartment mixing problems. The assignments were intended to focus student attention on sustainability concerns while also developing other essential skills. I discuss these assignments and their effect on my students’ technical writing and environmental awareness. Detailed introductory instructions and mostly complete solutions to these assignments appear in the appendices, to include sample student work.

Climate Change, Admin Stem For Success

STEM for Success Showcase

This lesson plan teaches students about climate change and its effect on animals and insects. Students can then participate in a climate change fact or myth game and a climate change Pictionary game.

Streaming With Butterflies: A Whole School Stream Project, Carey L. Averill, Janet M. Herrelko

Journal of Catholic Education

This study explores the commitment of a school faculty to use the pedagogical practices needed to employ a project-based unit of Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STREAM). The unit of study concentrated on environmental sustainability of butterflies through project-based learning (PBL). Teacher interviews were analyzed to reveal the similarities and differences, strengths and weaknesses in the teachers’ reactions to implementing a cross-curricula content unit designed for a pre-kindergarten (PK) to eighth grade school. Analysis of teacher data and classroom artifacts provided evidence of: content mastery at the student levels; implementation of scaffolding for developmental levels; and the need …

Environmental Explorations: Integrating Project-Based Learning And Civic Engagement Through An Afterschool Program, Rachel Farmer, Nakayla Greene, Kristen H. Perry, Cindy Jong

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

This study examined the Community Super Investigators Club, through which we aimed to apply mathematics and literacy skills by using project-based learning (PBL) to investigate elementary students’ interest in learning how to improve the environment for animals. PBL is a teaching method used to improve critical thinking skills around a project that is based on students’ questions. The study used a mixed-method design to examine the following research questions: How do students engage in PBL on topics relevant to their community in an afterschool club? How can critical math and literacy skills be integrated with community engagement? How did the …

Energy Poverty: Sos, Kaitlin Tomlinson

Senior Honors Projects, 2010-2019

This honors thesis is a part of a larger ISAT Senior Capstone project with partner Rachel Stukenborg. The purpose of the collaborative ISAT Capstone Project was to develop a set of university-level teaching and learning resources about energy poverty that incorporate a spherical display system, Science On a Sphere (S.O.S.). Four lesson “packages” were created regarding energy poverty for the ISAT Capstone. The first three incorporate Science On a Sphere while the fourth delves into the social, political, economic and cultural dynamics of sustainable solutions, without S.O.S. images. Each lesson package includes a background analysis, a comprehensive lesson plan, supporting …

Pengembangan Perangkat Pembelajaran Materi Geometri Ruang Smp Dengan Memanfaatkan Alat Peraga Manipulatif Dan Lingkungan, Harna Yulistiyarini, Ali Mahmudi

PYTHAGORAS : Jurnal Matematika dan Pendidikan Matematika

Penelitian ini bertujuan menghasilkan perangkat pembelajaran materi geometri ruang SMP dengan memanfaatkan alat peraga manipulatif dan lingkungan yang valid, praktis, dan efektif. Penelitian pengembangan ini menggunakan model pengembangan Four-D yang dimodifikasi menjadi tiga tahap: pendefinisian, perancangan, dan pengembangan. Uji pengembangan dilakukan di SMP N 1 Dukuhseti, Pati, Jawa Tengah. Instrumen pengumpulan data meliputi lembar validasi perangkat, lembar observasi keterlaksanaan pembelajaran, lembar penilaian kepraktisan perangkat, dan instrumen penilaian hasil belajar. Analisis data dilakukan secara deskriptif kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian ini berupa perangkat pembelajaran yaitu: RPP, LKS, Lembar Observasi Sikap (LOS) dan Tes Hasil Belajar (THB) dengan tingkat kevalidan 100%. Tingkat kepraktisan …

Annotated Bibliography: Environmental Education (1998-2013), Erich Yahner

Erich Yahner

No abstract provided.

Oh, Behave! Behavior As An Interaction Between Genes & The Environment, Emily G. Weigel, Michael Denieu, Andrew J. Gall

Faculty Publications

This lesson is designed to teach students that behavior is a trait shaped by both genes and the environment. Students will read a scientific paper, discuss and generate predictions based on the ideas and data therein, and model the relationships between genes, the environment, and behavior. The lesson is targeted to meet the educational goals of undergraduate introductory biology, evolution, and animal behavior courses, but it is also suitable for advanced high school biology students. This lesson meets the criteria for the Next Generation Science Standard HS-LS4, Biological Evolution: Unity and Diversity (NGSS Lead States, 2013).

Assessing The Effect Of Simulation Models On Systems Learning In An Introductory Environmental Science Course, Heather J. Skaza

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence within the systems dynamics community supporting the use of systems simulations in the classroom to improve student understanding, there is little published, controlled, experimental research. This paper describes the results of a paired experiment testing the effect of using system dynamics simulations to increase systems understanding in an introductory environmental science course. We believed that the students using the systems simulations would demonstrate a greater systemic understanding of environmental issues than those who did not.

We conducted an experiment during the fall semester of 2009, with 304 students enrolled in four sections of …

Grades 3-5 Pollution, Amy Silviotti

Science

This is a science lesson for grades third through five on pollution. Through this lesson students will be able to describe the relationships among air, water, land on Earth, characteristics of living and non living things, survival behaviors of common living specimens, the factors that help promote good health. Students will also be able to identify how plants and animals depend on each other and in what ways humans have changed the environment. The lesson is tiered in three levels based on ability. Within each tier the student will complete a shape contract where they choose tasks based on interest …

Discovery Of The Depths, Petros J. Katsioloudis

STEMPS Faculty Publications

Throughout history the oceans have directly or indirectly influenced humans. The importance of knowing how to protect this valuable resource and insure it for future generations is vital. Underwater Vehicles are tools essential for this process, and therefore research and development to perfect these devices is needed. However, the main goal of these devices--to transmit images from places where humans cannot go--remains the same, and their importance to future discoveries remains vital. This article discusses the different types of underwater vehicles and describes an activity wherein students will fabricate an underwater remotely operated vehicle.

The Challenge Of Environmental Protection, Jennifer Mattei

Biology Faculty Publications

Connecticut is in the midst of a demographic transition to a period of lower population growth. These demographic changes will help check the pressures exerted on the state's natural resources by population growth. Water, air, soil, energy sources, food, fisheries, forests, and biodiversity are common pool resources upon which we depend in ways that transcend political boundaries. Those governing Connecticut should help turn the state into a model of how to manage natural resources by halting forest fragmentation, reducing pollution, and promoting environmental science education.

How Do We Know There Is A Population-Environment Problem?, Peter J. Taylor

Working Papers on Science in a Changing World

Five fictional friends of the author have agreed to meet and talk, hoping that he was right when he claimed that discussion crossing the usual boundaries of their fields would enrich their different inquiries and concerns. Ecolo, a natural and human ecologist, breaks the ice. He wants to marshall scientific knowledge to persuade others of the seriousness of the population problem. He is questioned by Philoso, whose philosophical bent leads her to observe the models that people use and to ask how they support the claims they make. In turn, the other three join in: Activo, an activist who is …

The Potential For Critical Social Inquiry Through Environmental Education In The Philippines, Ken Byrne

Master's Capstone Projects

The rate and extent of deforestation in the Philippines is phenomenal. It has been estimated that in 1934, 17 million hectares of the Philippines' 30 million hectares were covered in forest (Asian Development Bank, pp. 13-14.) This figure had dropped to 10.5 million by 1969, and by 1993 it stood at 5.7 million. If one looks at old growth forests, where there is the greatest diversity of animal, plant, and insect life, then the figures are even more stark: In 1934, there were 11 million hectares of old growth forest; in 1969, 4.7 million; and by 1993, the figure had …

Energy Education Materials For Elementary School, Marcia Keizer Fraser

All Master's Theses

The materials created introduce intermediate elementary level children to a selected basic energy vocabulary and to concepts of energy-environment inter-relations. The approach is multi-dimensional, employing a slide tape presentation, posters, charts, and vocabulary cards. Energy concepts and vocabulary are repeated through the various media forms as a means to reinforce learning. The content tone is deliberately positive so that in the process of gaining knowledge about energy issues, children will feel successful, encouraging further achievement in the area of energy education.