Todays assigment will be in library researching power production techniques. Each topic should be covered by at least one student, but you can work in pairs or groups of three as well

Below are three ways power is produced in the US:

Coal burning, oil burning

Nuclear

Hydroelectric

For each means of power production I want you to create a tri fold pamphlet, you are not allowed to use WIKAPEDIA, and must have at least to physical print sources. Each pamphete should answer the following questions

How does x power production work?
How much of the USA's power is produced like this? Europes? The worlds?
What are the advantages of this form of power production?
What are the disadvantages?

cite your sources at the end of your pamphelet

This assigment will also be posted on my class blog www.mrvoytko.blogspot.com

Fun in the place where they keep all those books...

Today we will work in the library, learning how to evaluate web based sources... the following links will be useful to you!!

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

http://192.168.1.249/school/high/DW/05%2006%20calendar/SMAT.htm

HOMEWORK

Using your new found skills, evaluate this website:

http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

and post your response...

Bad information was available before the internet... extracredit if you can identify this hoax.

Stuff... the secret lives of everyday things

Todays assigment is to read and then present a chapter out of "Stuff" to your classmates. A few power point slide pictures will strengthen your presentation. Include those pictures along with your summary text on your blog. (Presentations are due wednesday)

Intro to the scientific method

The Scientific method

Is the truth really out there……

Read through a few of the following links, then in your own words post your answers to these questions, we will share some of the answers at the end of class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

http://teacher.pas.rochester.edu/phy_labs/AppendixE/AppendixE.html

What is the scientific method?

What are the steps in it?

What is involved in each step?

Find and post a diagram with arrows to illustrate the method?

What is a hypothesis, where does it come from?

What is a theory, where does it come from?

What is a model, where does it come from?

What is a scientific law, what are its major limitations?

Who uses the scientific method?

In what situations does the scientific method pertain. Can morals and ethics be determined using it? What about laws?


What is proof?


What is truth?


What is fact?


How does the scientific method relate to truth, fact and proof?

How does the knowledge produced from Scientific research differ from knowledge gained though only logic and philosophy


Homework
You have read two articles about the scientific method. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the way in which each article portrays it. Remember to take a look at the authors tone and word choice and to answer the questions “Which article do you find most believable?”

A link to one factual annlysis of Erics song...

http://ephemeris.sjaa.net/0312/b.html

Dark Side of the moon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Side_of_the_Moon_(documentary)

http://www.jonhs.net/freemovies/dark_side_of_the_moon.htm

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3288261061829859642&q=dark+side+of+the+moon

moon hoax

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_moon_landing_hoax_accusations

OK, so what is real, what is true, how do we know who and what to trust? After watching Dark Side of the Moon today, do you feel like you were fooled? When did you realize that this was a "Mock-umentry"? What hints did the film makers give you in the beginning and the throughout the film? Tell me what you think and how you felt about the film.... and why would it be easy to belive the films message if you were not a critical thinker. We will watch a number of films and documentries durring the semester it is important you take a critical thinking approach to the message each film presents.

Art and Facts... hunt for the correctness

Fact, fiction and funnies...

Information is presented to us everyday in a number of ways. Even comedies like Monty Pythons Meaning of Life contain factual information. The question is, how factual were these Oxford and Cambridge boys when they penned this little ditty (it was Actually Eric Idol who did most of the work)?

After watching the video and looking at the lyrics, use the web and books available to you to "fact check" the song... if you are lucky you may actually find you are not the only one to ever do this.. (hint.. hint). Make sure you note what facts you find and where you find them.

Watch the following video

Here is a link to the lyrics to the song

First and last assigment

This is the question to The Final Exam

When I was in the boy scouts they taught us a saying when we went camping. “leave only your footprints and take only your memories with you”. Whether we like it or not our daily lives make a impact on the world around us. Nicely put we make a difference. I would like you to think about the footprints you leave in one day of your life.

Answer it right now, and reflect upon it over the course of the semester. After you have written and posted your responce, read and comment on one of you fellow classmates responces. Links can be found on my page and here:

Denise
Erin
Jeffery
Lobo
Megan
Parker

Syllabus

Environmental Issues

Structure and nature of the subject
Modern society is to a very high degree based on the natural sciences and technology. For this reason, the individual needs knowledge of the natural sciences, both as an individual and as a member of society. Energy, environmental and resource issues place demands on a broad knowledge of the natural sciences. At the same time, the speed of development in the natural sciences gives rise to new questions, not least of an ethical nature.

Modern natural sciences are characterized by division into many specialist areas, at the same time as many questions require an interdisciplinary approach. This course is interdisciplinary, where issues concerning the natural sciences can be studied from several perspectives. The course takes up environmental issues, and also issues concerning ecology, energy and the use of resources.

Working methods will be varied, a heavy emphasis on enabling students themselves to search for answers and information and present them, fostering good critical thinking skills in the process. Material will be dealt with in active manor, including but not limited to small informal student presentations, posters, displays and the use of drama. Creativity and humor are a must!
Aim of the subject

Students shall examine the connection between lifestyle choices (as consumers and voters) and their effect the environment. The aim of the subject is to provide knowledge of the natural sciences to enable pupils to determine their views on issues, which are important for the individual and society such as e.g. genetics, sustainable development and energy issues.

Goals to aim for
Pupils should:
Have knowledge of the importance of lifestyle for the environment and sustainable ecological development.

Develop their ability to interpret and critically examine different types of information, take part in discussions on different societal issues, and form their views on the basis of a natural scientific and ethical perspective.

Be able to understand the difference between statements based on fact and value viewpoints in the natural sciences.

Be able to describe environmental problems from a natural science perspective, and actively take part in discussions on the possibilities for influencing development.

Develop their ability and interest in searching, critically examining and assimilating knowledge about current research in the natural sciences from different sources of information.

Develop their knowledge of the research and investigative methods used in science, and how results can be presented.

Develop their ability to understand and use the language and theoretical concepts of the natural sciences.

Assessment
The course will be assessed continuously via weekly logbook entries, quizzes participation in smaller presentation and assignments as well as a major essay exam, book report, and a final project (five page academic paper ) and associated presentation (good deal of room for creativity here, could be a film, PR campaign or dramatization).

Grading
Your Grade is determined by your percentage of total points earned. Grades will consist of approximately 50% logbooks (blog), 5% effort/conduct/participation. The other 50% comes from quiz scores, final projects, bookreport, presentations and other major assigments. Your progress and grades will be printed out regularly, so you will know what your letter grade is AT ALL TIMES.

Grading scale
A+ 98-100% B+ 88-89% C+ 78-79% D+ 68-69%
A 94-97% B 84-87% C 74-77% D 64-67%
A- 90-93% B- 80-83% C- 70-73% D- 60-63%

Syllabus (list of potential subject areas)
Units or Subject Areas (Student interest can change these)

Introduction to Scientific Philosophy and Critical thinking
What science is and isn’t
The nature of scientific fact, opinion and theory
The art of taking a stand
A brief overview of ecology
Ecological terminology
Natural cycles
The flow of energy and materials in ecosystems
Photosynthesis
Greenhouse effect
Ozone layer
Ocean currents
Energy
Physics background (work/power/energy, energy types, energy quality)
Power production
Types and their effects on the environment
Transportation
Negative environmental impacts

Acid rain
Over fertilization
Erosion
Desertification
Impacting Ozone and Greenhouse
Sustainable development
Overpopulation?
Issues of land use (Earth, Air, water)
§ Things like:
· Reef , wetland and rainforest destruction
· Tourism effect on the environment
· Cities effect on ecosystems
· Industry
Renewable vs. consumable resources
Biodiversity
Packaging
Food production and consumption
Genetics
The effects of modified organism
Local Issues