Lets Explore Climate Change Using GIS Tools!
The course explores the various forces behind climate change. Students develop higher order critical thinking skills such as spatial awareness in collaborative environment through the use of dynamic interactive web maps.
What's included
8 live meetings
6 in-class hoursClass Experience
The course aims to bring a diverse group of students together in examining the forces behind climate change. The structure of the class follows the 7 Essential Principles of Ocean Science and the DCER Framework (Data-Claims-Evidence-Reasoning) that allows students to actively build scientific reasoning using data to develop critical thinking skills around the topic. Manipulating digital maps gives students the ability to justify their reasoning through data. Each week new content will help in honing in on the students' ability to synthesize their knowledge and provide predictions. The DCER framework aims to increase the student's capacity to understand a complex topic such as climate change while reinforcing scientific principles. Each week has a specific science standard given along with the expected student outcome:
Week 1 - " Visualizing Our Interconnectedness" - Principle 1 The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected. Students will view videos/digital photos of natural disasters and the interconnected impact domains (water, ecosystems, food, health, and security). Students will perform a watershed analysis (grade-level appropriate) including identifying which watershed they live in and comparing similarities/differences in each of their watersheds. Students will make a prediction about which watershed is the cleanest.
Week 2 - "Weather and Climate" - Principle 2 The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate. Students develop and use a model to describe how unequal heating and rotation of the Earth cause patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation that determine regional climates (Next Generation Science Standards: MS-ESS2-6). Students will begin with access to an interactive base map. Each student will pinpoint their location on the map (a general location w/o any personal information) and will be asked to briefly describe the current weather (hot, cold, warm, sunny. dry, wet.) We will use map notes and basic editing tools to build our map showing ocean and wind currents along with the Global Ocean Conveyor belt. Students will be introduced to the concept of remote sensing in identifying warmer and cooler ocean currents.
Week 3 -
Upon completion of the class, students have access to a 30-day free trial of the ArcGIS platform to further explore GIS mapping.Learning Goals
*Students will gain crucial data literacy skills
*Students will develop spatial thinking
*Students will manipulate map layers and construct their own web map.
*Students will engage in critical thinking.
*Students will synthesize information by actively applying new knowledge through the use of web map solutions.
Other Details
Supply List
The student is required to have access to a computer and a Google account.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Sources
We will refer to ESRI's collection of interactive maps https://www.esri.com/
Joined February, 2022
Teacher expertise and credentials
Each class involves students engaging in a GeoInquiry. GeoInquiries are composed of three parts: a teacher guide, an interactive web map, and a student worksheet. Pedagogically, geoinquiries provide a multi-layered inquiry arc around the map and data within. Students engage in active critical thinking and gain important perspectives through the exploration of dynamic interactive web maps including weather patterns, land usage, and remote sensing concepts. Students are introduced to GIS tools that engage them in tackling environmental/societal dilemmas. I truly believe students that become engaged with science are on their way to becoming lifelong learners. I am a certified (Massachusetts licensed) Earth Science educator along with being a certified/active member of the National Geographic Educators community. Throughout my career as a teacher, I've had the privilege of teaching a wide range of student populations. I'm dedicated to equitable practices in the science disciplines and continuously seek out professional development opportunities that allow me to offer students the latest edtech tools to engage with including GIS mapping tools. Science saved my life and I take pride in helping students understand the acquisition of knowledge.Reviews
Live Group Class
$45
for 8 classes1x per week, 8 weeks
45 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 7-12
3-12 learners per class
