Ailuropoda melanoleuca: Information
Ailurops ursinus: Information
Ailurus fulgens: Information
Aiptasia pallida: Information
Phase 1: Definition of Projects and Research Teams (Homework +1 Class)
Each student is assigned the task of proposing a site to investigate within the city and the surrounding region. Students are encouraged to discuss the assignment with community members for suggestions and inspiration. Each student will produce an easel-size poster of their proposal highlighting the following:
Site location;
Reasons for selecting this site;
Potential interest to the community;
Potential logistical problems associated with the proposed site/project.
Posters will be hung in a gallery-walk format, and each student will mark the location of their proposed study site on the classroom map of New York City. The class is given time to read and comment on each of their peers' proposals, after which the instructor will lead a class discussion of the interests, merits, and obstacles associated with each proposal, with the goal of having the class settle on the set of projects on which to move forward.
Students will define groups of 2 to 4 students per project. If more than 4 students are interested in the same site, then multiple groups may develop parallel projects.
Phase 2: Data Collection and Analysis (5 weeks)
In consultation with the instructor, teams develop and implement a sampling protocol, including the documentation of terrain, human activity, and weather conditions (wind speed and direction) at the time of collection. Sample stations and prevailing wind direction are plotted on Google Earth to determine likely sources of particulates. Using binocular microscopes students document size distribution, form, color, and abundance of particulates. This data is analyzed using statistical functions in Excel. Teams use SEM-EDS analysis to determine the composition of particles, and more fully describe their form. Teams submit weekly progress reports, including personal work reports for each team member.
Phase 3: Communication of Results (1 Week)
Teams submit to their instructor a formal laboratory report: Purpose, Equipment, Method, Data Tabulation, Data Analysis, and Conclusions.
Teams prepare an oral presentation, or visual information campaign, targeted at an audience of their choice (e.g., neighbors, church group, community activist group, college administration) using discourse appropriate to that audience. Teams present in an in-class dress-rehearsal prior to their formal presentation. Teams invite members of their desired audience to the presentation (official invitations sent). On the last day of class, the instructor leads a debriefing and critique of the presentations, highlighting results and effective communication techniques.
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The Phoenix metropolitan area, like many large cities, has problems with air pollution at certain times of the year. You can do a simple experiment to determine some of the factors that affect air pollution.
![Air Pollution [Liberal Arts: Math and Science/Natural Science]](https://img.oercommons.org/160x134/oercommons/media/upload/materials/screenshots/materials-course-280650.png)
This assignment was designed for students in the pathways introductory chemistry class and the first year seminar and aligns with the Inquiry and Problem Solving core competency. In this context, there is a focus on framing the issues (identifies and/or addresses questions and problems), evidence gathering (assembles, reviews and synthesizes evidence from several diverse sources), evidence (analyze the data to address the questions posed) and conclusions (critical thinking, reflect on the outcomes, draw conclusions and generate new knowledge). There is also a Global Learning component based on comparing data collected locally with corresponding data from other locations or countries. The assignment includes the written communication ability with a focus on "Content Development and Organization," as well as the clarity of the communication and its purpose. The overall aim of this assignment is to enhance students' conceptual learning and understanding of key issues related to society as well as their course. This assignment was developed as part of a LaGuardia Global Learning mini-grant and CUNY Experiential Learning and Research in the Classroom mini-grants.
The assignment will be scaffolded over about 3 weeks and is worth about 10% of the final grade.
To further increase the success of this assignment, instructors might want to consider the following: Use class discussions to focus on the relevance and importance of conceptual learning. In order to improve the data analysis aspect, incorporating class demonstrations of how to conduct the analysis and guide discussions about what the data means. Giving students more detailed rubrics with formal expectations of the requirements of the assignments, particularly in the written format Find ways to increase student participation in class discussions.
When this assignment has been utilized in previous semesters, students clearly displayed the capability to relate the co-curricular experiences in the data collection and its analysis to concepts and ideas covered during class. Evidence for this came from very dynamic and interactive class discussions based on air pollution as well as from the output of the written assignment, in which students were able to relate the nature, sources and chemical properties of the pollutants to their impact on the environment, health and society in general.
LaGuardia's Core Competencies and Communication Abilities
List the Program Goal(s) that this assignment targets
Global Learning based on comparing pollutant levels around the LaGuardia campus with those in other locations or countries. It is also an IPS assignment, incorporating scientific literacy and thinking, as students need to analyze the data, interpret it and reflect on the outcomes.
List the Student Learning Objective(s) that this assignment targets
Identify and apply fundamental chemical concepts and methods. Gather, analyze, and interpret data.
List the Course Objectives(s) that this assignment targets
Explore the complex connections between chemistry and society. Apply chemical principles to real world issues, including ethical aspects. Gather, analyze, and interpret data.
Write a short description of the pedagogy involved in executing this assignment
Students collect and analyze the data, interpret the results in terms of pollution levels, safety and ethics and compare with EPA standard levels and with levels in other countries.
Outside the classroom events will be organized for data collection. There will be class and group-based discussions focused on the data, its analysis and the connections to society.
Animals have been a part of aviation and space travel since the very beginning. Hear stories about animals in aerospace including dogs, cats, lions, and bugs all from two VERY special hosts.
Have you ever wondered how bees fly? Or what use their honeycomb structures have outside of a bee hive? Join us in conversation with Dr. Holly Walker and Imad Atallan.
In this discussion you can learn how you can combat light pollution and how it impacts the world around us.
Watch the conversation with the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History's Global Volcanism program, recorded on the 40th Anniversary of the eruption of Mount St. Helens.
Do you want to learn about the intersection of art and science? This episode included a conversation with Museum and classroom educators.
In 1947, a weather balloon crashed in Roswell, New Mexico, setting off decades of debate about aliens and UFO's. Join us to learn more!
This online set of activities help students learn properties of ocean waves, wind-wave relationships and properties of tsunamis.
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Aix galericulata: Information
Aix sponsa: Information
Ajaia ajaja: Information
Akodon azarae: Information
Akodon cursor: Information
In this two-part activity, students/participants first:
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Complete a Hazard Inventory for their city or area of interest in the event of a magnitude 7 or larger earthquake and tsunami.
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Identify what critical structures and infrastructure will be affected.
Then:
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Write a summary statement assessing strengths and vulnerabilities of essential services or infrastructure.
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Propose actions for mitigating vulnerabilities.
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Create an Action Plan to address identified needs.
(Note: this resource was added to OER Commons as part of a batch upload of over 2,200 records. If you notice an issue with the quality of the metadata, please let us know by using the 'report' button and we will flag it for consideration.)