Module+Review+1+-+Exploring+Oil+and+Gas

Derek Ford Module Review 1 02/12/2013

[|Exploring Oil and Gas-NEED]

//What Organization developed the curriculum module?//

This lesson plans were prepared by the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED). However NEED is sponsored by organizations including the Society of Petroleum Engineers, NASA, U.S. DOE, and the American Chemistry Council.

//What is the mission of the organization?//

NEEDs mission statement is as follows: “The mission of The NEED Project is to promote an energy conscious and educated society by creating effective networks of students, educators, business, government and community leaders to design and deliver objective, multisided energy education programs.”

//What is the educational mission and philosophy of the organization?//

The educational mission is the same as the statement above.

//What does the curriculum module aim to teach? In other words: What are the learning outcomes supposed to be?//

This particular lesson aims to explain the basic concepts of oil and natural gas formation, composition, exploration, production and use. The lesson is correlated to the National Science Education Standards for grades 6 to 12. Some of these correlations are the ability to do scientific inquiry, understand energy transfer, understand regulation and behavior, and understand the structure of the earth system. Various activities are also outlined to better illustrate the lesson, some are simple drawing exercises while others are more elaborate experimental demonstrations.

//Do you think the curriculum is appropriated designed to produce the intended learning outcomes?//

Although the learning objectives are very broad yet so to are the associated activities. The designed activities are well detailed and have well defined outcomes. Although the outcomes for each activity are not designed with sustainability in mind, scientific literacy is important to sustainable education. Activities are designed to teach understanding of the phenomena related to oil and gas.

//Does this curriculum teach the kind of literacies the EcoEd Research Group advocates?//

The literacies advocated by the EcoEd Research Group, are not explicitly met in the lesson plan. However, understanding of the science behind the problems can be of great benefit. The learning modules presented here are very pro oil and gas, as these are the topics of the lesson, little attention is given to the negatives of activities such as fracking. There are a number of activities centered on fracking, meant to demonstrate how the fracking process works however; negative consequences are not discussed in the module.

//What could be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that EcoEd Group advocates?//

I think that inclusion of the negative effects of the use of fossil fuel should be added to the modules, adding a level of questioning to the lesson. Although, energy at a whole could be added to the module, including renewable sources, that would expand the scope of the lesson. Adding climate change or greenhouse gas emissions to the module at least in a small way would help children question motives when it comes to energy choices.