ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

Computer Lab Research 10-24-13

You will need to write some information from your research today on paper (instructions about things you need to write down will appear in green).  The paper must be placed in the section for Seminar in the rings of your BINDER! Begin by putting a title, date, and name on the paper you will be using today.
We will begin today by learning about "Ecological Footprint." Read and examine the images below.  For more detailed information, also see this website: footprint network.org-overview

Part A: In a complete sentence or two, explain what it means that the United states is number two on this list.  What does this say about our country and the people in it?  Do you think (just guess) your footprint is higher or lower than the national average?

Now go to the ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT CALCULATOR (click here).

Take the Eco-footprint quiz and find out your estimated Ecological footprint. 

***Do not close the tab with your quiz results until you are done with Part D, or you will have to do it over!***

The results will look like this:

**IMPORTANT STEP! Save a screen clipping of your quiz to your student drive.**

Part B: Write out and complete the following sentence: If everyone lived like me, we'd need ____ (fill in your score, for the above quiz it would be 4.5) Planet Earths to provide enough resources.

• Describe what this means to you.  
• How does it make you feel?  
• What questions come to your mind?  

On your quiz results, look at the bar chart on the bottom right.  It separates your footprint by the types of resources and shows how much of each you use.  For me, "Energy Land" is by far the highest, with almost five acres.  Look at your highest category, then click on "edit your footprint" to the right.  Try to make one change to your answer on the quiz that would make the biggest increase or decrease on that number.  

Part C: Describe what answer you changed on the quiz.  How much did it change your footprint? (example: I increased my air travel to the max and my footprint went from 4.5 to 5.6! or: I selected all local food and went from 4.5 to 4.2)

Click on the "explore scenarios button." Choose one or more options of everyday things you can change to lower your ecological footprint. Then answer the following questions.

Part D: Which "explore scenarios" option seems most achievable to you?  Would you be willing to change your lifestyle to lower your ecological footprint? Why or why not?

Now click on the following link to find the ENERCITIES game.

Click on the "play game" tab at the top and then select the British flag to play in English (Spanish is also available).  

Part E: Write down your score for these categories:

1. Overall Score:
2. Economy (Euro sign)
3. Environment (tree)
4. Wellbeing (smiley)
5. Victory points (star)

Multi-media Dialogues

You have created a dialogue and recreated it using video, picture, audio, etc. 
Here are the things you need to do:

• Put your RUBRIC into your project and make sure you fill out the two sections for yourself
• you can copy my rubric by clicking on MY SLIDESHOW, downloading it, and copying the chart into your slide.
• Your DIALOGUE must be included in your slideshow. If you recorded it in a video or comic and it is easy to understand, that is enough.  If you do not have a recording of it, please include your dialogue in your slideshow.
• to find your ipad files, go to dropbox.com and sign in just like we did on the ipads.
• Add ANY OTHER CREATIVE WORK, movie trailers, or other artistic additions you made with the iPads, ESPECIALLY IF IT RELATES TO YOUR TOPIC!

Perspectives in Controversy

Perspectives inControversy:

Finding different viewpoints on your topic

What issues or questions related to your

topic do large groups of people disagree

about? (include key words for each)

Rate each category 1-5

Controversy slide 1: (click for example)

¡How much do your genes influence your brain? (genetic change, brain development)

úA: 3   B: 2   C: 3   D: 4  total: 12

¡Is brain improvement technology a good idea? (artificial brain enhancement, ethics, memory wiping)

úA: 4   B: 5   C: 5   D: 3  TOTAL: 17

¡Is curiosity beneficial (helpful) or detrimental (harmful) to people? (evolution of curiosity, curious dangers, advantages, survival)
 A: 3   B: 3   C: 3   D: 3  total: 12

Topic evaluation Categories:

A. Good information available

B. Controversy is clear (conflicting arguments exist)

C. Your interest in/opinion about the question

D. Balance and focused (not to general or specific)

Next, choose your best question according to you ratings.  

CONTROVERSY SLIDE 2: (click for example)

Can you find good information given by both sides of your chosen issue? Use your keywords to find sources of information. If you can't find sources or arguments on two sides of the question, then you need to ask for help and/or choose a different question.

The following is what you need in your next slide:

¨Brain Chip controversy

¨http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/02/why-cognitive-enhancement-is-in-your-future-and-your-past/252566/

¨http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/403761/implanting-hope/page/2/

¨http://www.lokitimes.com/category/pros-cons/

¨Pro (for it) side:

¡http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/michael/blog/2008/06/intelligence-enhancement/

¨Con (against it) side: http://biomed.brown.edu/Courses/BI108/BI108_2005_Groups/03/controversy.htm

¡http://www.theageoftransitions.com/index.php/oldies/84-implantable-brain-chip-history-lesson

Controversy Slide 3
Research Analysis[your question goes here]
RELEVANCE: How does this source relate to the question?
ARGUMENTS: What arguments for or against the question are given or implied by the article?
RELIABILITY: What person or group created this source?
úDoes the source seem reliable and the information seem to be good quality? (rate it 1-5)
úWHY?  (explain the reasons for your rating)

Peer Review

Now is your chance to help eachother make your projects even better! 

• Partner up with a classmate and show them your project, then complete the "Peer Review Slide" as show below.  
• Use complete sentences and be specific!
• Then have your partner show you his/her project and they will do the same thing.
• You are required to do this with at least one classmate, but you can always do more for extra points.

Here is the text for easy pasting:

Peer Review: Working together

Name of your peer reviewer: __________

• What part of your project did your peer think you did the best on?
• What part did they think you needed to  improve?
• How did they help you make your project better?

Key words and Vocabulary for your project

 go to MY CURIOSITY SLIDESHOW
then select FILE and DOWNLOAD to use my template

• Use the Etymology Dictionary to help with the botom left section.
• Use a Dictionary website to help with Definitions, synonyms, antonyms, and rhyming words.

Preparing for Evaluation

On Thursday and Friday I will be checking your projects for completion and Quality for your progress report grades.  
Here is a list of what you need to have done (minimum):

• Phase I: Book
• Title and Author of book, plus three questions
• Information relating to at least one of those questions
• Phase II: Internet research
• 3 new questions
• 2 information slides with website address, quoted information, and reflections in your own words
• Phase III: Analysis Questions
• 3 analysis questions using 3 of the forms
• Information- answer one question using an Idea web (or concept map)
• Phase IV: Inferring and Elaborating
• 3 questions from 3 different forms (about website)
• 1 information slide with website address, quoted information, and reflections in your own words

Once you have completed that, see what you can add with creativity and research.  Here are some ideas:

• create a wordcloud or tagxedo (see mine on the right)
• Look for informations about one of your questions you haven't gotten to yet.
• Use online art tools:
• Pixon Comic Maker 
• Make your own Dinosaur Comic 



• Ze Frank's Scribbler 

Phase III-IV (that's 3-4 for you non-Romans)

Thursday, Jan. 31 - Friday, Feb. 1
REQUIRED ELEMENTS

• PHASE III Analysis: Idea Web/Mind Map - last week you started by asking at least 3 questions from 3 different forms for ANALYSIS questions.
•  Create an Idea Web in one of two formats (or both if you are super into it):
• Using the "SmartArt Graphics" feature in PowerPoint, select one of the HIERARCHY templates.
• OR you can go to www.mindmeister.com and sign up with your email (if you have one and are allowed to use it by your parents).  Create a Mind Map, then turn it into a picture file that you insert into your power point.  
• If additional research is needed to fill out your map, please do so.
• Phase IV: Inferring and Elaborating Questions - These questions will help you dig deeper as you find quality information.
• Go to one or more of the following websites to find your information this time:
• Stuff you should Know (science and other random things)
• How stuff works (just like it sounds)
• Wired Magazine online (technology and culture)
• National Geographic online (Nature and culture)
• Studio 360 (art, culture, science)
• Skeptic Magazine (serious look at extraordinary things) 
• If you can't find anything on these sites or you want to use something different, MAKE SURE YOU ASK ME FIRST!
• FIRST, choose an article or podcast relating to your topic and read/listen to the first paragraph/minute of it.
• ASK THREE QUESTIONS FROM THE FOLLOWING FORMS (on your first phase IV slide:
• Inferring
• What might we infer from _______?
• What conclusions might be drawn from _______?
• Elaborating -
• What ideas/details can you add to _______?
• Give an example of _______.