I've Got Issues!
Students examine environmental issuesCopyright Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinkrejci/4408273247
This lesson introduces students to environmental issues. Students recognize environmental opinions and perspective, which will help them define themselves and others as either preservationists or conservationists. Students also learn about the importance of teamwork in engineering.
When considering an issue, engineers must look at the problem from several points of view. Having the ability to hear and consider multiple opinions on an issue is a valuable — and necessary — engineering trait that facilitates constructive problem solving when designing and building new structures that will affect the environment. Engineers also find it helpful to collect accurate facts and statistics issues and then examine this information before deciding on a definite approach to the problem. Engineering teamwork depends on people having the ability to understand (but not necessarily agree with) each others' viewpoint.
After this lesson, students should be able to:
- Define and identify an environmental issue.
- Understand that all issues involve multiple perspectives.
- Explain how collaboration can be used in solving engineering problems.
- Recognize literature as a record of human experience.