Energy and the Poor - Black Carbon in Developing Nations
Anne Hall
, Environmental Studies at Emory University
Summary
The students will explore the impacts of the use of wood, dung and charcoal for fuel, generating black carbon, in developing countries. In-class discussion will generate several broad topics relevant to the use of black carbon generating fuels. Using the jigsaw method, small groups will explore one broad topic related to black carbon, then multi-topic groups will synthesize the information gathered.
Context
Audience
Undergraduate course in Environmental Geology, with both majors and non-majors.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
Students must be able to use the web for research and be able to work in small groups to generate a concept map and short paper.
How the activity is situated in the course
This activity is a stand-alone exercise.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
- Students will investigate topics related to household energy use in developed and developing countries. Students will be able to define the term "black carbon" and understand its role as a greenhouse gas.
- Students will understand the social, health and environmental impacts of the use of wood, dung, and charcoal as household fuels.
- Students will propose solutions for household energy use in developing nations as well as understand their own role in producing greenhouse gases.
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
Students will critically evaluate the impacts of varied household energy sources, synthesize a wide range of social, health and environmental impacts and generate solutions to these problems.
Other skills goals for this activity
Students will work in two separate groups; one group that will search the internet and collect references and information and one group that will need to synthesize the information gathered.
Description of the activity/assignment
To prepare for this assignment, students will read a New York Times article, "Third-World Soot is Target in Climate Fight," by Elizabeth Rosenthal http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/16/science/earth/16degrees.html.
In class, students will generate a list of broad topics that the article has touched on, adding new topics that may come up during the discussion (health effects, climate change, use of solar technology and improving stove efficiency, land use, black carbon legislation). The jigsaw method is used to form two sets of working groups. Within the first small group, each student must become conversant in a topic related to black carbon. Students of the second, multi-topic group must work together to create a concept map and short explanatory paper.
This activity connects household energy use to a wide variety of related topics, from social implications of time spent wood-gathering to air pollution and respiratory problems in the poor, to low-cost solar technology and climate change.
In class, students will generate a list of broad topics that the article has touched on, adding new topics that may come up during the discussion (health effects, climate change, use of solar technology and improving stove efficiency, land use, black carbon legislation). The jigsaw method is used to form two sets of working groups. Within the first small group, each student must become conversant in a topic related to black carbon. Students of the second, multi-topic group must work together to create a concept map and short explanatory paper.
This activity connects household energy use to a wide variety of related topics, from social implications of time spent wood-gathering to air pollution and respiratory problems in the poor, to low-cost solar technology and climate change.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Within the second small group, the students will complete a concept map and a 2-page explanatory paper that demonstrates their understanding of the problems linked with black carbon and they will generate workable solutions.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment: Black Carbon Assignment (Microsoft Word 28kB May8 09)
- Instructors Notes: Instructor's Notes for Black Carbon Assignment (Microsoft Word 54kB May8 09)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
Included on Instructor's Notes page attached.
