Urban Environmental Issues

Syed E. Hasan
,
University of Missouri-Kansas City
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Summary

Class project on issues realted to use of pharmaceuticals and personal care projects (PPCPs) culminating in preparation of a persuasive letter to state legislators to consider regulating the toxic PPCPs in the wastestream

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Context

Audience

Undergradautecourse in ewnvironmental science/studies for majors and non-majors Integrates geophysics into a core course in geology Designed for an introductory geology course

Skills and concepts that students must have mastered

General understanding of the Earth and its system: atmosphere, bioshphere, hydrosphre, lithospshre, and anthroposphere; hazardous earth processes, resource, enegry and waste issues.

How the activity is situated in the course

Semester long term project.

Goals

Content/concepts goals for this activity

Awareness of the new waste product, its impact on the environment, and problems associated with lack of regulations for propoer management of PPCPs. Using Internet resources and working in teams to accomplish proeject goal.

Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity

Evalaution of available information and its source (for accuracy); ability to synthesize a large volume fo information into a simple, easy-to-understand format for convincing lay persons about the need for regulating PPCPs.

Other skills goals for this activity

Persuasive wriitng and PowerPoint presenttaion to class by each team

Description of the activity/assignment

Studnestw ere introduced to the topic through two lectures and were provided deatils of the task. The class was organized into teams of six. Each team was asked to select a coordinator and vice corodintaor to keep a record (log sheeet) of the tasks assigned to each memebr of the team and ist outcome. They were also responsible for maintaining effective communication with all team memebrs. Log sheet was required to bu turned in with the project report for the purpose of evalaution of effort expended by individuals in the team to assign appropriate grades. Uses geophysics to solve problems in other fields

Determining whether students have met the goals

Written project report, PowerPoint presentation; persuasive letetr by each team member

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