InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Future of Food > Student Materials > Section 1: Introduction > Capstone Project Stage 1 Assignment
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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For the Instructor

These student materials complement the Future of Food Instructor Materials. If you would like your students to have access to the student materials, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.

Capstone Project Stage 1 Assignment

Modules 1-3

The diagram below summarizes the topics you will explore in Stage 1 for your assigned region based on what we've covered in Modules 1, 2 and 3. At this point, you should know your assigned region. For Stage 1, you will do your data collection on your own, and submit a PowerPoint and your completed worksheet.

What to do for Stage 1?

  • Confirm with your instructor which region you will be studying
  • There is a blank CHNS diagram included in the worksheet. Begin filling it out with the information you're gathering about your region. At each capstone stage, you will be able to add more to it and refine it.
  • Complete the worksheet below that contains a table summarizing the data you'll need to collect to complete this stage. There are questions in the left column, and space to answer them in the right column. It's very important that you cite the source of each piece of information that you type into the right column.
  • You need to think deeply about each response and write responses that reflect the depth of your thought as informed by your research. Do not just write one-word answers.
  • Include questions that you have about your region related to the key course topics covered so far in the Stage 1 worksheet. Be sure to include in this document a record of your efforts to answer the questions so far. Also, there is space at the end to paste in links to any sites you visit that you think might be helpful in the future.
  • Create a PowerPoint file that you'll use to store maps, data, graphs, photos, etc. that you collect related to your assigned region. For every piece of information that you put in your PowerPoint file, you MUST include a citation that clearly explains where that piece of information came from.
  • Submit your Stage 1 PowerPoint file and worksheet per the guidance from your instructor. (see rubric below for assessment).

Downloads

Download the worksheet (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 246kB Jan3 18) for Capstone Project Stage 1

Capstone Project Overview: Where do you stand?

Upon completion of Stage 1, you should have started to investigate your assigned region and have added information, maps and data to your worksheets and PowerPoint file.

Upon completion of stage 1, you should have at this point:

  1. Confirmed which region you will study for your capstone project and identified the members of your group.
  2. Initiated research and data compilation in the Stages 1 table in the associated Stages 1 worksheets.
    • Stage 1: Regional food setting, history of regional food systems, diet/nutrition
  3. Created a PowerPoint file to hold the data that you are collecting about the food system of your assigned region. The information you may have:
    • Labeled map of your region
    • Soil map of your region
    • Precipitation map of your region
  4. Record citations for all references and resources you are using in your research.
  5. Compiled an initial list of questions you have about your region related to key course topics and initiated significant efforts to answer.
  6. Begin to create a CHNS diagram(s) for your region that illustrates the coupled human-natural systems of your food region. Rubric for Stage 1 Individual Assessment:
Rubric for Stage 1 Assessment
CriteriaPossible Points
Stage 1 worksheet and ppt files for assigned region uploaded to drop box by deadline5
All questions in the Stage 1 worksheet answered thoughtfully with evidence of research into the assigned region10
PowerPoint file includes relevant images, graphs, and data for assigned region10
Proper citations are included for all items in worksheet and PowerPoint5
Total Possible Points30

These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »