Conley-Wilson+Curriculum+Review+5+-+E-Waste+Basics

Curriculum Review 4: Electronics, From Production to Use and Waste //Focus here on curriculum that teaches kids about the many sustainability problems associated with electronics -- making sure not to forget the labor issues (the hazards to workers).// //It may be a bit challenging to find fully developed curriculum; you also can review media that would be good to build curriculum around -- like [|The Story of Electronics,]// //which extends from the (also excellent) [|Story of Stuff.]Also see 60 Minutes on e-waste Free Geek (12 minutes) ([|http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1085302130525)]// Word Count 500

e-Waste Basics found [|here] under Teacher Resources

Repair It Forward is the organization the developed the curriculum module I am evaluating. I will be focusing on their e-Waste Basics program since they have six comprehensive curriculums.
 * What organization developed the curriculum module you are evaluating?**

Repair It Forward was created by the students of a school, named Columbia Area Career Center (CACC) located in Columbia, MO. The mission of the organization is not stated on their website however they provide the services of refurbishing computers to distribute them to local charities and educational programs. This organization also serves as “the first Career Center in the state that serves as a Microsoft Registered Refurbished.”
 * What is the mission of the organization?**

The organization does not has a visible educational mission on their website, however I assume they would like to educate locals on how computers can be reused and re-purposed into electronics that are useful for any one.
 * What is the educational mission and philosophy of the organization?**

The curriculum module aims to teach students about e-waste and the history of e-waste in the United States. Students should come away with the knowledge of how consumerism relates to the amount of waste, specifically e-waste. Students should understand how much e-waste is produced annually. This curriculum also teaches what happens to e-waste for example is it recycled, put into storage/reused or is disposed of (including incinerated, landfills, and proper disposal). Ways to reduce e-waste is explicitly stated in these worksheets, information sheets, and presentations which should be an additional take away from this curriculum.
 * What does the curriculum module aim to teach? In other words: what are the learning outcomes supposed to be?**

I think the curriculum is appropriately designed to produce the interned learning outcomes, however much of the information is very direct and simple. It would be good to get a more in depth sense of learning from this module however there are five other curriculums this organization has created. This curriculum is successful in getting students of age to understand the basic facts of e-waste and its impact on the environment and our society.
 * Do you think the curriculum is appropriated designed to produce the intended learning outcomes?**

This curriculum teaches some of the literacies of the EcoEd Research Groups advocates. These include: understanding of how their own actions have an array of proximate and far off effects and understanding of potential for change and of alternative ways of doing things and organizing society. Students figure out what happens to their electronics, which many of them will own or their parents will own, when family members and themselves are done using them.
 * Does this curriculum teach the kind of literacies the EcoEd Research Group advocates?**

Things that can be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that the EcoEd Group advocates by focusing on labor issues, hazards of workers, etc. and way we these issues can be avoided or reduced via collective action. This will allow them to develop the capacity to recognize and productively deal with diverse perspectives and to understand the challenges and value of deliberation and cooperative action. Although this curriculum states major toxins of e-waste like lead, mercury, and plastics, it does not state the health effects these toxins have on the environment or people. Integrating these facts into the curriculum would cultivate an understanding of their own health and well-being.
 * What could be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that the EcoEd Group advocates?**

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 * Additional Sources for Curriculums**