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ENVIRONMENTAL AND RISK/BENEFIT ISSUES IN THE K-12 SCIENCE CLASSROOM
An on-line conference July 6 through July 31, 2001
| Schedule & Papers | Majordomo Discussion Archive |
|
An on-line conference July 6 through July 31, 2001
| Schedule & Papers | Majordomo Discussion Archive |
There are two basic premises for this online conference:
1) everyday topics that students are already aware of--such as environmental issues--can be used to get their attention and focus on the scientific principles underlying these issues;
2) students can be led to use the knowledge and skills they gain in science classes to make intelligent risk/benefit decisions. That is, introducing environmental issues will create a "need to know" on the part of the student, and what the student subsequently learns can be used to make informed decisions about environmental issues.
| Conference Organizer: |
Dr. Elizabeth W. Kleppinger Eastern Kentucky University 1042 Burnell Drive, Berea, KY 40403 beth.kleppinger@eku.edu 859-582-5096 |
6 July: INTRODUCTION ____________________________________________________________________
Paper 1 - Planet Earth Be Damned!: A Plea for a Return to Common Sense
Dana Stuchul
Department of Education Studies
Berea College
Berea, KY 40404
Dana_stuchul@berea.edu
Inspired by the writing and living of Wendell Berry, Ivan Illich, et al., this paper will attempt to contribute to the lengthy conversation concerning the importance of including environmental issues in K-12 education. It will attempt to go beyond an argument for including environmental issues across the curriculum, beyond the ecological discourse about planet earth, beyond the recently promoted notion of education for sustainability, to call for teachers and students to participate in the recovery of "common sense."
Here used, common sense refers to a re-birth of senses, to those senses rooted in places and in the soil beneath our feet. Teachers and practitioners will be invited to consider possibilities, even in the midst of innumerable reform initiatives, accountability schemes, and diminishing resources, for shared learning among all ages so that our common sense and common places can be regenerated. In these efforts, perhaps only through these efforts, can the tide of displacement of cultures, the disembodiment of persons, and the disintegration of places be stemmed.
9-10 July: Discussion of the paper ____________________________________________________________________
Paper 2 - THE ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF USING COMBUSTION AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY
Dana M. Barry, Ph.D., C.P.C.
Center for Advanced Materials Processing
Clarkson University
Potsdam, New York 13699-5665
dmbarry@clarkson.edu
This paper presents the risks of using combustion as a source of energy. It describes the greenhouse effect, air pollution, smog, and acid rain. In addition to being informative, it encourages students in grades 7-12 to analyze these risks and to brainstorm for solutions such as alternate energy sources and energy conservation. Student activities and resources for further reading are also provided.
11 July: Short Questions 12-16 July: Discussion of the paper _____________________________________________________________________
Paper 3 - ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION RESOURCES ON THE WEB
Elizabeth W. Kleppinger
Department of Chemistry
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY 40456
beth.kleppinger@eku.edu
An annotated, but of necessity noncomprehensive, list of links that may be helpful to K-12 teachers who want to include more environmental science in their classes.
17-18 July: Discussion of the paper after July 18: Send Contributions to the resource list ____________________________________________________________________
Paper 4 - GAINING PERSPECTIVE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
J. David Robertson
Department of Chemistry
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211
Robertsonjo@missouri.edu
The Environmental Chemistry course that was recently developed at the University of Kentucky is a very popular elective with "pre-service" students pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a Masters degree in education. The goals of the course are:
The third objective, which is approached by having students write a position paper about a "controversial" environmental issue, is a practical exercise in risk assessment that these individuals are encouraged to pass on to their middle and high school students.
19 July: Short Questions 20-23 July: Discussion of the paper ____________________________________________________________________
Paper 5 - withdrawn
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Paper 6 - SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL: A PROJECT-BASED LEARNING PARTNERSHIP
Susan E. Powers, Ph.D., P.E. and Jan DeWaters, P.E.
Dept. Civil & Environmental Engineering
W.J. Rowley Laboratories
Clarkson University
Potsdam NY 13699
Sep@clarkson.edu
The Clarkson K-12 Project Based learning Partnership was initiated in the Fall of 2000 to bring students from Clarkson University into middle school science and technology classes. The Clarkson students teach a curriculum that focuses on solving environmental problems as a means of improving the middle school students' interest in and knowledge of these subjects. The partnership program currently focuses on the issue of solid waste disposal at the schools. Hands on activities at the 7th grade level include biodegradation by micro and macro organisms and compost ecosystems and habitat. The 8th grade science classes apply their knowledge of material properties (density, bulk density, moisture content) and elemental analysis (C, N) to characterize food waste and the finished compost. In all classes, the lessons taught through this program are designed to address education standards defined by New York State and meet preparation needs of the students for their NYS 8th grade science exam.
24 July: Short Questions 25-26 July: Discussion of the paper ____________________________________________________________________
Paper 7 - withdrawn
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27-31 July: General Discussion ____________________________________________________________________
This on-line conference has ended.
For more information see the CONFCHEM home page: http://www.ched-ccce.org/confchem/