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

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.

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

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)