Resource Usage Project and Journal

Gina Seegers Szablewski
,
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
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Summary

Students keep track of one resource (water, electricity, gas, etc.) they use for a 7-day period. They summarize their usage patterns, give opinions, and get some self-realization about their habits.

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Context

Audience

Introductory geology course concerned with environmental issues

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

Basic skill set of creating a journal, summarizing data in a table, and writing a 2-page paper. They need to know the different resources they use on a regular basis.

How the activity is situated in the course

I usually offer this as a stand-alone EC project for large classes.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Accurate collection of data

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Clear analysis of data collected, critical evaluation of how choices and habits affect the environment through energy usage

Other skills goals for this activity

Practice scientific and opinion writing, practice searching for practical data (eg, how much water is involved in a toilet flush, demonstrate scientific literacy

Description of the activity/assignment

This project is an opportunity for students to realize the impacts of their lifestyles on the environment. They choose one of the following options to keep track of:
A. Energy consumption (transportation, industrial, or residential hot water),
B. water consumption
C. food consumption
D.Waste production
Then the student records the appropriate personal information from that category for a seven day continuous period. Their submission of 2-3 pages must include their raw data, a summary of their raw data, and a conclusion of what they have learned from the project. Honesty and creativity in presentation are encouraged strongly, even if the data reflects a "non-green" lifestyle. Students are graded equally on length, grammar, relevancy, voice, and content.

Determining whether students have met the goals

I create a very simple rubric with 5 categories that need to be addressed in their submission.

More information about assessment tools and techniques.

Teaching materials and tips

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