Lesson Overview
This lesson is about cause, effect and tradeoffs. While technology makes our lives more comfortable and meaningful, it also can have varying effects (positive and negative) on the environment. For example, Americans love to drive. Auto emissions pollute the air. If Americans would walk more or use alternative modes of transportation, CO2 emissions would be reduced and the tradeoff would be a positive effect on the environment. The use of technology such as automobiles can have both positive and negative effects.
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Learning Outcomes:
Develop an understanding of the effects of technology on the environment. (ITEA 5)
- Humans can devise technologies to conserve water, soil, and energy through such techniques as reusing, reducing, and recycling. (ITEA 5-G)
- When new technologies are developed to reduce the use of resources, considerations of trade-offs are important. (ITEA 5-H)
- With the aid of technology, various aspects of the environment can be monitored to provide information for decision-making. (ITEA 5-I)
- The alignment of technological processes with natural processes maximizes performance and reduces negative impacts on the environment. (ITEA 5-J)
- Humans devise technologies to reduce the negative consequences of other technologies. (ITEA 5-K)
- Decisions regarding the implementation of technologies involve the weighing of trade-offs between predicted positive and negative effects on the environment. (ITEA 5-L)
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Getting Started
To begin this lesson, view this brief video on the impacts of technology on our environment. An impressive presentation by 12 year old Severn Suzuki. As you watch, consider:
- What problems can you identify related to the impact of technology on the environment?
- What solutions are you aware of for these global problems?
- What efforts are you currently making to address some of the issues presented?
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