Location

University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Room 207

Start Date

6-3-2009 1:15 PM

End Date

6-3-2009 2:45 PM

Description

AFTERNOON CONCURRENT TRACK 1: SUSTAINABILITY IN THE K-16 CLASSROOM Moderator Gale Sinatra Student Union Room 207 Ellen Ebert – Using the STS/EEE Model in 6-12 Curriculum to Understand the Sustainability Issues Related to the Colorado River System Abstract: Beginning in 1982, the National Science Teachers Association called for curriculum designers to develop materials that demonstrate the interconnectedness among science, technology and societal issues while presenting both positive and negative influences. This session will focus on using the STS/EEE learning model to design curriculum for secondary science that emphasizes sustainability issues focused on the Colorado River system. The presentation will outline the essential features of the STS/EEE model, then engage participants in applying the model in a novel situation. Rebecca Reichenbach – CCSD Action Research: Understanding the Urban Heat Island Effect Abstract: Due to the unique placement of Western High School within a concrete and asphalt island and a result construction project to rebuild it, a group of science teachers from Western High became interested in how the new construction would affect the urban heat island footprint of their school. A student project was developed to track and document the construction process over a two-year timeframe. The participating teachers used action research to study the impact of the project on their teaching practice and student learning. Three inquiry-style laboratory activities were created to teach students about heat concepts and the effect of heat islands. A misconceptions survey, along with student journaling, were used as data sources for determining changes in student understanding. Results show significant conceptual change in the grade 9 students, with less significant change for the older student population. This presentation will describe the research context, process, and its impact on participating students and teachers. Nick Pretasky – Energy…Catch the Buzz!, Abstract Are you looking to get your students up and moving, discovering energy, and developing critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use? The topic of energy is a growing concern in our society. It is imperative that students are provided with opportunities to discover the role we play in how our energy is created and consumed. This session is designed for formal and non-formal educators with tools and activities to help students in grades PreK-8 learn about their relationship with energy and investigate the environmental issues related to energy’s role in society. Dale Walsh – Sustaining Indoor Environmental Quality in the Classroom to Improve Learning Abstract: This presentation will include the basics of establishing and maintaining good indoor environmental quality in a school environment. Designing and maintaining adequate amounts of clean outdoor air to dilute pollutants generated from both the environment and the occupants is important in reducing transmission of diseases between students and in reducing exposure to building related contaminants and other potentially harmful particulates. To illustrate the value and problems that can arise from poor indoor environmental quality, a case study of an Arizona school with high profile indoor air quality problems will be addressed. In addition, studies regarding improved learning attributed to building schools under Green Building systems will be presented.

Keywords

North America – Colorado River Valley; Sustainability – Study and teaching; Water conservation

Disciplines

Climate | Curriculum and Instruction | Environmental Sciences | Fresh Water Studies | Junior High, Intermediate, Middle School Education and Teaching | Natural Resources and Conservation | Science and Mathematics Education | Sustainability

Comments

PowerPoint

RReichenbach_CCSDActionResearch_USIConf_PPt_03-06-2009.pdf (98 kB)
Rebecca Reichenbach-CCSD Action Research: Understanding the Urban Heat Island Effect, 13 PowerPoint slides

NPretasky_EnergyCatchBuzz_Abstract_USIConf_03_06_2009.pdf (6 kB)
Nick Pretasky-Energy...Catch the Buzz!, Abstract

DWalsh_SustainIndoorEnvrionQuality_USIConf_PPt_03-06-2009.pdf (3610 kB)
Dale Walsh-Sustaining Indoor Environmental Quality in the Classroom to Improve Learning, 43 PowerPoint slides


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Mar 6th, 1:15 PM Mar 6th, 2:45 PM

Afternoon concurrent track 1: Sustainability in the K-16 classroom

University of Nevada Las Vegas, Student Union Room 207

AFTERNOON CONCURRENT TRACK 1: SUSTAINABILITY IN THE K-16 CLASSROOM Moderator Gale Sinatra Student Union Room 207 Ellen Ebert – Using the STS/EEE Model in 6-12 Curriculum to Understand the Sustainability Issues Related to the Colorado River System Abstract: Beginning in 1982, the National Science Teachers Association called for curriculum designers to develop materials that demonstrate the interconnectedness among science, technology and societal issues while presenting both positive and negative influences. This session will focus on using the STS/EEE learning model to design curriculum for secondary science that emphasizes sustainability issues focused on the Colorado River system. The presentation will outline the essential features of the STS/EEE model, then engage participants in applying the model in a novel situation. Rebecca Reichenbach – CCSD Action Research: Understanding the Urban Heat Island Effect Abstract: Due to the unique placement of Western High School within a concrete and asphalt island and a result construction project to rebuild it, a group of science teachers from Western High became interested in how the new construction would affect the urban heat island footprint of their school. A student project was developed to track and document the construction process over a two-year timeframe. The participating teachers used action research to study the impact of the project on their teaching practice and student learning. Three inquiry-style laboratory activities were created to teach students about heat concepts and the effect of heat islands. A misconceptions survey, along with student journaling, were used as data sources for determining changes in student understanding. Results show significant conceptual change in the grade 9 students, with less significant change for the older student population. This presentation will describe the research context, process, and its impact on participating students and teachers. Nick Pretasky – Energy…Catch the Buzz!, Abstract Are you looking to get your students up and moving, discovering energy, and developing critical thinking skills to make decisions about their personal energy use? The topic of energy is a growing concern in our society. It is imperative that students are provided with opportunities to discover the role we play in how our energy is created and consumed. This session is designed for formal and non-formal educators with tools and activities to help students in grades PreK-8 learn about their relationship with energy and investigate the environmental issues related to energy’s role in society. Dale Walsh – Sustaining Indoor Environmental Quality in the Classroom to Improve Learning Abstract: This presentation will include the basics of establishing and maintaining good indoor environmental quality in a school environment. Designing and maintaining adequate amounts of clean outdoor air to dilute pollutants generated from both the environment and the occupants is important in reducing transmission of diseases between students and in reducing exposure to building related contaminants and other potentially harmful particulates. To illustrate the value and problems that can arise from poor indoor environmental quality, a case study of an Arizona school with high profile indoor air quality problems will be addressed. In addition, studies regarding improved learning attributed to building schools under Green Building systems will be presented.