Final Checkpoint

Welcome back. I hope your Spring Break was as relaxing as mine. You will have at least one more day this week in the computer labs to tighten up your final action plan project.

Your team will need to bring in the trifold display board on THURSDAY, APRIL 4^th FOR B DAY STUDENTS and FRIDAY, APRIL 5^TH FOR A DAY STUDENTS.

We will continue working on the posters through the week of 4/8 – 4/12.

The poster design will be based on the Future Problem Solving Program International Community Problem Solving Project Display. A sample diagram can be found under the Homework Assignments tab of the EEE website. We will discuss specifics and/or modifications in class.

You should use this comment spot to upload final additions to the project.

Action Plan Checkpoint

Action Plan Checkpoint

We are now half way through our Ocean Soup Project. You should be able to explain challenges associated with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, identify the underlying problem, and have an idea of what your solution will be. This week we are going to focus on developing an official action plan. You will need to either:

1. Write an action plan in the FPS format and display in a creative manner

2. Talk with me about a creative way to share what you have developed to implement your action plan

Notice your choices are narrowing as we approach the implementation phase. Your plan of action should be clearly identified by the end of this week. We will miss a week for Spring Break, but you should think about ways to forward your Action Plan Project during this time. When we return you will only have a few more days in the lab before we begin the poster project for our Action Plan Showcase Night.

Use the following link to access over 50 Web 2.0 tools.

http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/

Upload all documentation, as well as your creative digital product to the blog comment space. I need to know who you are, so add your first names and last initials to the comment.

This assignment is due Friday, March 22^nd for A day students and Monday, March 25^th(Yes I KNOW THIS IS THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING BREAK – GET IT DONE BEFORE THE DATE IF YOU DON’T WANT TO WORK OVER THE BREAK) for B day students.

Checkpoint 1 Overflow

This spot is for those who still need to upload information from checkpoint 1.

Checkpoint 2

Checkpoint #2 As we progress through the project, we will have checkpoints along the way. You have a few different options for this checkpoint. You can use the information you have learned in your research to either: 1.      Identify your underlying problem and five solutions and display them in a creative manner 2.      Elaborate on your final solution idea by displaying at least three ways you could use it to develop an action plan and share them in a creative manner 3.      Talk with me about a creative way to share what you have learned for this checkpoint Now that you have a clear understanding of the research and challenges involved with Ocean Soup, the time has come to finalize your solution idea, which will then allow you to begin creation of the final action plan you will implement. Keep in mind… if your Key Verb Phrase focuses on REDUCING the amount of plastic entering the ocean, then your Action Plan must reflect a project that is focused on REDUCING the amount of plastic entering the ocean. If your Key Verb Phrase focuses on EDUCATING people about the problem, then that is what your Action Plan should focus on. Hopefully you now see why the Underlying Problem is SO VERY important in problem solving. Use the following link to access over 50 Web 2.0 tools. http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/ Upload all documentation, as well as your creative digital product to the blog comment space. I need to know who you are, so add your first names and last initials to the comment. This assignment is due Friday, March 15th for A day students and Monday, March 18th for B day students

Checkpoint 1

As we progress through the project, we will have checkpoints along the way. You have a few different options. You can use the information you have learned in your research to either:

1.      Create your own Ocean Soup Future Scene

2.      Identify at least 8 challenges and display them in a creative manner

3.      Identify your underlying problem and five solutions and display them in a creative manner

4.      Talk with me about a creative way to share what you have learned for this checkpoint

The idea is that you go through the problem solving process and then share what you have done in a creative, innovative manner that helps everyone move closer to development of their action plans.

Use the following link to access over 50 Web 2.0 Tools you can use to share your project.

http://cooltoolsforschools.wikispaces.com/

This assignment is due Friday, March 8^th for B day students and Monday, March 10^th for A day students.

Size of plastic ocean soup | amiiko

Size of plastic ocean soup | amiiko

Ocean Soup Diigo

Here is a link to my Diigo. Use the resources to supplement your own research. Use the comment section to share your favorite links. If your links are good, and you share enough of them, I will give you extra credit when you need it.

https://www.diigo.com/list/mleuchtmann/ocean-soup

What is the Project All About?

During the course of this project you will use the problem solving process to learn all about challenges associated with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. I will provide Guiding Questions to help focus your project, and you will then be responsible for identifying the Underlying Problem, generating
Solution Ideas, Evaluating those ideas and then ultimately creating an Action Plan that you will develop and communicate to an authentic audience.

The beauty of this project is that you have the opportunity to take it in what ever direction you feel is the most appropriate. We will work together to fulfill some of the basic requirements of the project, but ultimately YOU will choose what vehicle you will use to communicate your Action Plan. You will work in small groups to complete the project and will be assessed on:

1. the depth and quality of your research
2. your collaboration skills
3. application of the problem solving process
4. the creativity, quality and impact of your culminating project.

THE ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:

How did the plastic get there?

What are the effects of the plastic on the biosphere?

How can we change the way WE recycle to keep the plastic out of the ocean?

Although all of these questions will drive your research, the final question will ultimately serve as the charge of your real world scenario. These are the essential questions I have posed for you, but I want to hear how you define the problem, as well as what you feel are the essential driving questions of this topic. 

Your task is to use what you have learned so far about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to:

1. define the problem (in five to seven COMPLETE SENTENCES)
2. create 5 quality questions that display the depth and complexity I know all of you are capable of.

Define your challenge and write your questions, post them here AND send them via e-mail to MLeuchtm@columbia.k12.mo.us

The assignment is due on Thursday, February 21st for B day students and Friday, February 22nd for A day students. 

Your post should look something like this:

Matt Leuchtmann 

Class: 6B

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch has turned one of our most valuable resources into the largest garbage dump in the world. Plastic products along with other waste that does not easily biodegrade are caught up in the gyres of the Pacific Ocean. Because these products are caught up in powerful ocean currents they have been concentrated into an area that is double the land area of Texas, and that reaches a depth of over 100 feet. This toxic Ocean Soup has a devastating impact on all aspects of our diverse marine ecosystem. We need to do what we can to address this challenging issue.

1. To what extent does our current model of recycling contribute to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP)?

2. Are there better alternatives to our current disposable consumer society?

3. Is there anyway to use the Pacific Gyres to our advantage when considering solutions to the GPGP?

4. How can we lessen the impact plastic toxins have on organisms in our marine ecosystem?

5. Would it be possible to alter the chemical structure of our plastics to create a more enviornmentally friendly product?