Curricular Example of Use of Technology

Technology is used in two of the three steps of the Learning-for-Use framework. It is used to help students construct knowledge and also analyze datasets and apply that knowledge to their environmental decision.

The link below is an example of a computer model where students construct their understanding about how a coal power plant works. Students go through each of the different stages of the power plant to learn how we get energy from coal.

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An example of a simulation where students learn about the relationships between coal burning rates and emissions rates. Students use simulations like this one to gain the understanding that solutions to environmental issues are complicated and not always so cut and dry.

Students use this simulation to test their predictions of what they think will happen as they alter the transportation rate and combustion rate.

Using the same model, students apply their knowledge about coal burning power plants to figure out how to supply the needed electricity for different seasons.

In this example from Unit 2 students construct knowledge about how a coal burning power plant works and the various relationships with the process of converting coal to energy.

Technology is also used to support students in the apply phase of the Learning-for-Use model.

In this example, students analyze multiple datasets in GIS software to help determine where is the best location of a coal burning power plant for the citizens in a town in Wisconsin.