Module+Review+4+-+Power-pollution+connection

Derek Ford 05/07/2013 //What Organization developed the curriculum module?//

Developed by 2 RPI Students, Thomas Sgueglia and myself

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

Our intention was to teach elementary school children the connection between air pollution and power.

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

N/A See above statement

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

As previously stated we aimed to teach elementary school children the connection between power (electricity) and pollution, also teaching them the concept of a process, inputs and outputs, rather than just a blackbox type concept of electricity. We also sot to show that some form of electricity production are better than other, ie. solar over coal.

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

The curriculum was surprising well designed for this task. The activity had students paste cutouts of process inputs, like a coal mine, next to the process, in this case a power plant, as well as a black cloud symbolizing pollution output. Students grasp this concept of inputs and outputs rather well. More extract concepts like what coal is and where it came from was more challenging. Although not a learning outcome for this module, it is needed as background information.

//Does this curriculum teach the kind of literacies the EcoEd Research Group advocates?// Yes, this curriculum does by trying to teach causality. That decision we make about using electricity and cars, can pollute the air. //What could be layered into this curriculum so that it addresses more of the learning outcomes that EcoEd Group advocates?// Given the intended audience, this lesson was well thought out. However, I would recommend using the updated version which has students connect the inputs and outputs by drawing lines over gluing. This process is faster and allows the teacher to explain in greater detail.