Today in IGSS

Continuation of Panel Discussions on Chicago topics.

Discussion of Plato's "Allegory of the Cave". The allegory of the cave is written as a fictional dialogue between Plato's teacher Socrates and Plato's brother Glaucon which explains his beliefs:
--the world revealed by our senses is not the real world but only a poor copy of it
--the real world can only be apprehended intellectually
--knowledge cannot be transferred from teacher to student
--education consists in directing student's minds toward what is real and important and allowing them to apprehend it for themselves
--the universe ultimately is good
--enlightened individuals have an obligation to the rest of society

Brainstorming topics to investigate for Human Footprint unit.

Paper use
Plastic use
Watering athletic fields
Water resevoirs in NT Township
Styrofoam use
AC/Heating
Light bulbs
Electric Hand Dryers
Computers
Wasted food
Thrift stores - clothing
Team uniforms
Aluminum cans
Trash
NT T-shirt phenomena
Team travel
Club travel
Administrator's travel
Catered food for NT lunches
Cell phones
Fertilizer
Shoes
Packaging
Construction
Driving to school

Monday: be prepared for "When did Humans First Alter Global Climate"?

New Unit:

What is our Footprint? What Should we Do About it?

As an individual or in a pair, choose one aspect of our local community’s footprint which you believe is problematic or in need of serious study. Once you have chosen your area of interest:
a. collect accurate data on the subject; come up with accurate quantitative (and perhaps qualitative) data; use a combination of class time and homework time to get this data; call people, visit places, ambush people in their offices; keep track of your data!!!
b. research carbon footprint calculators and formulas which are relevant to your topic; organize your data, and use your understanding of natural cycles to apply the correct calculations to your data; your teachers will show you a couple of models during class, such as the footprint of paper at NT and the footprint of a hamburger
c. analyze your data and present it in the most clear fashion; you will probably want to show several ways in which you have examined the footprint of this item; you may want to give comparative data to help your audience really understand the impact; in the final and most important step of any data analysis, apply your knowledge and beliefs and make concrete suggestions as to what our local community should do

Timeframe:
In-class brainstorm: Weds., Dec. 2
Choose area of study: Fri., Dec. 4 at the latest
Class time (to supplement your own time spent): Dec. 7-9
Turn in final product, begin step 2: Dec. 11