N SCI 100 pICT Project

1
N SCI 100 pICT Project

• NEW APPROACH
• Applied science to real problem global warming
• In groups, did web quest on renewable energies
• Created brochures on how to save energy in lives
• Attempted to reduce electricity use, shower time,
  gasoline use by 10 or meat eaten by 50
• Real World OUTCOMES
• 88 reduced energy use by 10 or more
• 85 voluntary attendance compared to 72 before

2
10 Energy Saving Experiment

• Hypothesis People are NOT to be aware of how
  much energy they use.
• Prediction People can easily reduce their
  energy use by 10, unless they already are saving
  energy.
• Observations
• Electric bill
• Shower time
• Gasoline receipts
• Meat eaten
• Results 88 reduced energy use by 10
• Conclusions Hypothesis is supported.

3
Being Adaptable

• Making groups
• Fall 2006 survey, assigned, made folder, groups
  sat where they want Easy
• Spring 2007 tried to assign seats so could learn
  names Yikes!
• Modifying the assignment
• Blackboard discussion group
• Can you do electricity or transportation
  challenge? No.
• Added showers and meat eating.
• Grading time
• Student problem with transportation calculation
  rest OK
• Speeches versus Evaluation
• Fall 2006, speeches boring.
• Sp 2007, evaluate three brochures on other topics

4
Resources (Books from Barnes and Noble.)

• Gore, Al. An Inconvenient Truth. Emmaus, PA
  Rodale, 2006.
• Morris, Craig. Energy Switch. Gabriola Island,
  Canada New Society Publishers, 2006. (ISBN 13
  978-0-86571-559-2)
• www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/index.html
  (good for basic understanding)
• http//www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/impacts.htm (best
  on prospects for future development)
• www.25x25.org under Why renewables (biased
  toward renewables)