Viva Las VegasViva Las VegasThe Power Plant Energy ProjectThe Power Plant Energy Project

Developed by:Developed by:

Project STEP FellowsProject STEP Fellows

Matthew BarberMatthew Barber

Nicholas HarthNicholas Harth

Developed for:

Heather Woodyard

Hughes Center

Viva Las VegasViva Las VegasThe Power Plant Energy ProjectThe Power Plant Energy Project

Executed by:Executed by:

Hughes CenterHughes Center

Nicholas HarthNicholas Harth

Matthew BarberMatthew Barber

Amelia High SchoolAmelia High School

Andrew SpurgeonAndrew Spurgeon

Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline

I.I. The Dual MissionsThe Dual Missions

II.II. The PlanningThe Planning

III.III. The ExecutionThe Execution

IV.IV. The ResultsThe Results

V.V. The ReflectionThe Reflection

The Dual MissionThe Dual Mission

- From Project STEP:From Project STEP:

-Authentic Learning-Authentic Learning

-Relating Learning to -Relating Learning to CommunityCommunity

The Dual MissionThe Dual Mission

- From Mrs. Woodyard:From Mrs. Woodyard:

-Design culmination activity for -Design culmination activity for chapter “Energy and Your chapter “Energy and Your Community,” from the textbook, Community,” from the textbook, EARTHCOMM.EARTHCOMM.

- Develop something related to - Develop something related to electrical power plants.electrical power plants.

The Planning- objectivesThe Planning- objectives

Students will be able to…Students will be able to…

1.) evaluate a power plant 1.) evaluate a power plant technology and its effects on a technology and its effects on a community.community.

2.) demonstrate their ability to 2.) demonstrate their ability to research, analyze, and evaluate a research, analyze, and evaluate a topic in a written report and a topic in a written report and a presentation.presentation.

The Planning- the activityThe Planning- the activity

1.1. The premise:The premise:

-Each group represents a team from a -Each group represents a team from a different power plant manufacturing different power plant manufacturing company.company.

-Groups must work to convince the Las Vegas -Groups must work to convince the Las Vegas City Council to purchase their style of City Council to purchase their style of power plant for Las Vegas.power plant for Las Vegas.

The Planning- the activityThe Planning- the activity

2.2. The assignments:The assignments:- Group responsibility list.- Group responsibility list.- Group materials list.- Group materials list.- Individual research notes.- Individual research notes.- Written report.- Written report.- Presentation.- Presentation.- Visual Aid.- Visual Aid.- Evaluation.- Evaluation.

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1. Power plant 1. Power plant research paperresearch paper

Power Plant Research PaperPower Plant Research Paper

Group Portion:Group Portion:- IntroductionIntroduction- ConclusionConclusion- RebuttalsRebuttals

Individual Portion:Individual Portion:

PPRP- RebuttalsPPRP- RebuttalsIn their rebuttals, they presented at In their rebuttals, they presented at

least one argument against each of least one argument against each of the other power plant designs.the other power plant designs.

The rebuttals were on a separate The rebuttals were on a separate page, after the conclusion.page, after the conclusion.

Each group member wrote at least one Each group member wrote at least one rebuttalrebuttal

Power Plant Research PaperPower Plant Research Paper

Group Portion:Group Portion:- IntroductionIntroduction- ConclusionConclusion- RebuttalsRebuttals

- Transitions between - Transitions between paragraphsparagraphs

Individual Portion:Individual Portion:- Body paragraphsBody paragraphs- CitationsCitations

PPRP- CitationsPPRP- Citations

Citations-Citations-

They were required to provide a They were required to provide a “Works Cited” page, and note, within “Works Cited” page, and note, within the text of their paper, which the text of their paper, which information came from which source.information came from which source.

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1.1. Power plant Power plant research paperresearch paper

2.2. Responsibility ListResponsibility List

Responsibility ListResponsibility List

-This is a list of exactly what everyone -This is a list of exactly what everyone was going to be doing on this project. was going to be doing on this project. It must include: It must include:1. Which body paragraphs and 1. Which body paragraphs and rebuttals each person will write.rebuttals each person will write.2. What each person will generally 2. What each person will generally plan to do to make the Visual Aid and plan to do to make the Visual Aid and Presentation.Presentation.3. Everyone’s signature.3. Everyone’s signature.

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1.1. Power plant Power plant research paperresearch paper

2.2. Responsibility ListResponsibility List

3.3. Materials ListMaterials List

Materials ListMaterials List

-Each group will present a list of -Each group will present a list of materials they plan to use in their materials they plan to use in their presentation.presentation.

-No group may spend more than $10, -No group may spend more than $10, though most were able to spend though most were able to spend almost nothing.almost nothing.

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1.1. Power plant Power plant research paperresearch paper

2.2. Responsibility ListResponsibility List

3.3. Materials ListMaterials List

4.4. Research NotesResearch Notes

Research NotesResearch Notes

- Each individual maintained a list of Each individual maintained a list of notes as they research their topic.notes as they research their topic.

- These notes had to include citation These notes had to include citation information.information.

- The notes demonstrated that they The notes demonstrated that they had found useful information in their had found useful information in their research.research.

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1.1. Power plant Power plant research paperresearch paper

2.2. Responsibility ListResponsibility List

3.3. Materials ListMaterials List

4.4. Research NotesResearch Notes

5.5. Visual AidVisual Aid

Visual AidVisual Aid

-This was usually a poster, but it did -This was usually a poster, but it did not have to be.not have to be.

-It was graded on:-It was graded on:1. Originality1. Originality2. Pertinence2. Pertinence3. Readability3. Readability4. Neatness4. Neatness5. Explanation in presentation5. Explanation in presentation

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1.1. Power plant Power plant research paperresearch paper

2.2. Responsibility ListResponsibility List

3.3. Materials ListMaterials List

4.4. Research NotesResearch Notes

5.5. Visual AidVisual Aid

6.6. PresentationPresentation

PresentationPresentation

- 10 minute oral presentation10 minute oral presentation- They attempted to convince the City They attempted to convince the City

Council members to invest in their type Council members to invest in their type of power plant and included:of power plant and included:

- How the plant works.- How the plant works.

- Costs and benefits to community.- Costs and benefits to community.

- Why it is the best choice for - Why it is the best choice for Vegas. Vegas.

Details of AssignmentsDetails of Assignments

1.1. Power plant Power plant research paperresearch paper

2.2. Responsibility ListResponsibility List

3.3. Materials ListMaterials List

4.4. Research NotesResearch Notes

5.5. Visual AidVisual Aid

6.6. PresentationPresentation

7.7. EvaluationEvaluation

EvaluationEvaluation

They evaluated:They evaluated:

1. Themselves1. Themselves

2. Their group2. Their group

3. The activity itself3. The activity itself

As well as, a simple survey about As well as, a simple survey about themselves, their technology usage, and themselves, their technology usage, and their academic habits.their academic habits.

The Planning- the activityThe Planning- the activity

3. 3. Schedule:Schedule:

- 2 days for research- 2 days for research

- 2 days for writing- 2 days for writing

- 1 day for revising- 1 day for revising

- 2 days for presentation planning- 2 days for presentation planning

- 2 days to tie things up and practice- 2 days to tie things up and practice

- 2 days to present- 2 days to present

The Planning- the activityThe Planning- the activity4. 4. Expectations:Expectations:

-Rubrics for:-Rubrics for:

1. Group presentation1. Group presentation

2. Visual aid2. Visual aid

3. Group portion of report3. Group portion of report

4. Individual portion of report4. Individual portion of report

The Planning- the activityThe Planning- the activity

5. 5. Our presentation to the students:Our presentation to the students:

-Mr. Harth’s video introduction to -Mr. Harth’s video introduction to Vegas.Vegas.

-Mr. Barber’s PowerPoint -Mr. Barber’s PowerPoint presentation introducing the project.presentation introducing the project.

The ExecutionThe Execution

The Execution - HughesThe Execution - Hughes

- 11.5 class periods 11.5 class periods per class section.per class section.

- Visitations by:Visitations by:- Dr. DavisDr. Davis- Mr. ZhouMr. Zhou- Mr. SpurgeonMr. Spurgeon- Ms. KinneMs. Kinne- Dr. KukretiDr. Kukreti

The Execution - HughesThe Execution - Hughes

Changes Made-Changes Made-

-- Responsibility Responsibility and materials and materials lists combined.lists combined.

-- Just one rebuttal Just one rebuttal per personper person

The Execution - HughesThe Execution - HughesAssessment-Assessment-

- For presentation and - For presentation and visual aid, three visual aid, three teachers graded; teachers graded; average was taken.average was taken.

- Marks were applied directly to a copy of that assignment’s rubric. This was done immediately after each presentation.

The Execution - HughesThe Execution - Hughes

The Execution - HughesThe Execution - Hughes

Assessment-Assessment-

- Nick and Matt - Nick and Matt each graded half each graded half the papers.the papers.

- Marks were applied directly to a copy of the rubric. We then checked each other’s judgment.

The Execution - The Execution - AmeliaAmelia

Mr. Spurgeon will now discuss Mr. Spurgeon will now discuss how this module was how this module was executed at Amelia.executed at Amelia.

The Results - HughesThe Results - Hughes

First Hour- First Hour- - Average = 83.6%Average = 83.6%- High = 92%High = 92%- Low = 69%Low = 69%

Second Hour-Second Hour-Average = 83.8%Average = 83.8%High = 93.5%High = 93.5%Low = 58%Low = 58%

The Results - HughesThe Results - Hughes

From Evaluations-From Evaluations-

- 44 of 45 students agreed or highly - 44 of 45 students agreed or highly agreed that they had learned more agreed that they had learned more than they had at first expected.than they had at first expected.

- 19 of 45 students agreed or highly - 19 of 45 students agreed or highly agreed that they did better than agreed that they did better than students at other schools would have students at other schools would have done.done.

The Results - HughesThe Results - Hughes

Student votes chose Student votes chose which power plant which power plant Las Vegas will Las Vegas will build.build.

- First Hour:- First Hour:

- Solar- Solar

- Second Hour:- Second Hour:

- Wind- Wind

The Results - AmeliaThe Results - AmeliaMr. Spurgeon will now discuss the results of Mr. Spurgeon will now discuss the results of

this module at Amelia.this module at Amelia.

The ReflectionThe Reflection

- Overall, we were pleased with the results.Overall, we were pleased with the results.- Good consistency between classes.- Good consistency between classes.- Good consistency between graders.- Good consistency between graders.

HOWEVER…HOWEVER…

The Reflection - HughesThe Reflection - Hughes

- Greater focus on Greater focus on information.information.- Refine the web search Refine the web search

process. process. - A more formal lesson A more formal lesson

on web searches.on web searches.

- A more focused A more focused research process.research process.- Have them answer Have them answer

specific questions.specific questions.- No printing of No printing of

webpages.webpages.

The Reflection - AmeliaThe Reflection - Amelia

- More class time for reports and More class time for reports and presentations.presentations.

- Eliminate weekend between practice Eliminate weekend between practice and actual presentation.and actual presentation.

- Bigger classes.Bigger classes.- Possible reduction of peer-given Possible reduction of peer-given

points.points.

The Reflection- school The Reflection- school differencesdifferences

Our Observations/PerceptionsOur Observations/PerceptionsHughesHughes

- More critical thinking More critical thinking questions asked at questions asked at end of presentations.end of presentations.

- Some problems with Some problems with formal “business formal “business English.”English.”

- Making up answers on Making up answers on the fly.the fly.

- Better response with Better response with the report.the report.

AmeliaAmelia- Overall better Overall better

research.research.- Translates into greater Translates into greater

and higher quality and higher quality information in information in presentations.presentations.

- Generally, lower Generally, lower academic motivation.academic motivation.

Reflection – school differences Reflection – school differences Based on results from surveyBased on results from survey

- Hughes students felt they learned more Hughes students felt they learned more than they expected to more greatly than than they expected to more greatly than did students at Amelia.did students at Amelia.

- For every category of computer use For every category of computer use except “doing homework at home,” except “doing homework at home,” Amelia students claim to use computers Amelia students claim to use computers more.more.

- Students at Amelia tend to view a “C” as Students at Amelia tend to view a “C” as good grade more than those at Hughes.good grade more than those at Hughes.

Reflection – school differences Reflection – school differences Based on results from surveyBased on results from survey

- Students at Hughes Students at Hughes claimclaim to get to get good grades more so than students good grades more so than students at Amelia.at Amelia.

- Students at Hughes agree that they Students at Hughes agree that they want to get good grades to a greater want to get good grades to a greater extent than do students at Amelia extent than do students at Amelia (both, however, do agree).(both, however, do agree).

- The students at Hughes report higher The students at Hughes report higher values for parental involvement than values for parental involvement than those at Amelia.those at Amelia.

Grant RequirementsGrant Requirements

- Authentic learning-Authentic learning-- This is designed as a self-guided, This is designed as a self-guided,

problem-based, cooperative activity.problem-based, cooperative activity.

- Relating to the lives of the students-Relating to the lives of the students-- The problem is based on how to meet The problem is based on how to meet

the needs of a growing population. This the needs of a growing population. This is relevant to all students, especially is relevant to all students, especially those living in cities.those living in cities.

Any Questions?Any Questions?