Overview
What is this all about?
We may not all aspire to work in the sciences, but we can learn to be curious and skeptical. Curiosity is often the driving force behind new discoveries and research. The simple phrase, “I wonder…” is a great starting point for any investigation. Skepticism simply demands that we ask for evidence before believing what we’re told. It can be as simple as asking, “How do you know that?” Global Warming is a topic that is hard to avoid these days, yet there are a lot of people with some very different ideas about what is going on and what (if anything) we should do about it. Through this project I want you to let your curiosity run wild while keeping a strong hold on your scientific skepticism. Frequently ask yourself, “I wonder…” and then quickly follow up with “How do you know?” when offered the answers.
What are the goals for students?
- To follow your interests within the general topic of climate change and global warming.
- Demonstrate the ability to learn and research independently.
- Do self- and peer-assessments that help yourself and your classmates improve their learning and quality of thinking.
- Learn not just through research and reading, but also through experimentation, observation, and investigation.
- Share your learning with others. Not just Mr. Wildeboer & your classmates.
- Use various technological tools to collaborate with others and extend our learning.
Learning to let it go
I don’t want you to cling too tightly to what you currently think about climate change. We all come in with ideas about what it is and isn’t. Some are right, some are wrong. We’ll all be wrong from time to time, even about things we really think we know.
If you really want to know what this is all about
This unit is part of Mr. W’s Master’s Project. You can read the entire proposal here if you’re curious.
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