Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 11:42 AM
To: Janice Thiel
Subject: Form Submission (Critical Thinking Activities & Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs))
Thank you for submitting your Critical Thinking Activity/RLO idea. Please forward this message and attach any supplemental files (e.g., Handouts, PowerPoints, etc.) to Thiel.Janice@SPCollege.edu
Title of Critical Thinking Activity/RLO:
Your Answer: Ocean Pollution - What do scientists need to know?
Briefly describe or summarize the Activity/RLO:
Your Answer: Out of class: Have students watch videos on ocean pollution and investigate associated materials such as links to non-point pollution, biomagnification and noise pollution. In class: discussion of a current pollution problem from the news and what factors scientist may need to know to address points made in video and associated materials. Discuss how scientists would go about obtaining this information.
Subject Area(s) - Select all that apply:
Your Answer: Natural Science
What is(are) the Major Learning Outcome(s) addressed by this Activity/RLO (from course outline)?
Your Answer: The student will assess human impact on the marine environment and its inhabitants.
What is(are) the Course Objective(s) addressed by this Activity/RLO (stated in performance terms)?
Your Answer: a.reviewing the balance in marine communities in general and discussing the preservation and maintenance of a healthy coral reef (eg. Florida Keys) in conjunction with use, growth, construction and shipping. b.describing the impact of commercial fisheries, mariculture and marine pollution on the ecological balances in the marine environment both locally and globally. c.analyzing existing or designing new experiments to be performed locally to scientifically assess the effects of change (such as dredging, mangrove cutting, turbidity, sea wall location, eutrophication) on local marine communities.
Type of Activity/RLO - Select all that apply:
Your Answer: Individual, Large Group
Time - How much time does it take to conduct this Activity/RLO?
Your Answer: Portion of One Class
List the materials that are necessary to conduct this Activity/RLO:
Your Answer: Link to RLO Access to newspapers or TV for current events
Instructions - Give detailed step-by-step instructions on how to conduct this Activity/RLO:
Your Answer: Watch videos at home, follow links and read associated materials, discuss those in class. Discuss current even related to pollution in class and ask questions linking that to previous information. Apply this thought process and question-asking to discuss a paper of their choosing as the intervention assignment.
List Additional Resources, for example: Web address/URL, Handouts, PowerPoint, etc. Copy/Paste URLs here. Later, when you receive your confirmation message, forward any supplemental files to the QEP Director.
SPC established as its definition of critical thinking: The active and systemic process of communication, problem solving, evaluation, analysis, synthesis, and reflection, both individually and in community, to foster understanding, support sound decision-making, and guide action.
Which aspect(s) of critical thinking does this Activity/RLO address? - Select all that apply:
Your Answer: Communication, Problem-solving, Evaluation, Analysis, Synthesis
How will this improve our students’ ability to think critically?
Your Answer: Students will need to assess the effects of different factors involved in pollution and make a connection to current events. They will learn to identify the kinds of questions scientists need to ask to assess a multi-factor problem. Students will with ways scientists could answer these questions.
Have you consulted the Activity/RLO Guidelines?
Your Answer: Yes