Resource: AAG Modules

Resource Type:

These are printed "active learning" modules prepared by a group of geographers and environmental scientists within the AAG (Association of American Geographers) under NSF funding. The materials were targeted for use at the AP and beginning college level by both students and faculty and they focus on key issues, skills, and concepts in GEC (Global Environmental Change) and HDGC (Human Dimensions of Global Change).

It is anticipated that two or three of the modules will be "webbized" (put on the Web) by the time the workshop starts. If anyone wants to volunteer to help "webbize" these resources, the AAG/NSF/CCG2 project team will be very pleased (follow links under References).

Summary:

The titles/authors of the first five modules are:

1. Human Driving Forces and their Impacts on Land Use/Land Cover. Authors: Susie Moser and others, Clark University, Worcester, MA. (online version!)
2. Population Growth, Energy Use, and Pollution: Understanding the Driving Forces of Global Change. Principal Author: Mike Kuby, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
3. The Geography of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Principal Author: Diana Liverman and Michael Solem. Pennsylvania State University.
4. Living in the Biosphere: Production, Pattern, Population, and Diversty. Author: Dwight Brown, University of Minnesota, Minneapoli
5. Think Locally, Act Globally! Linking Local and Global Communities Though Democracy and the the Environment. Author: Lorraine Dowler, Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse, NY.

Each day during the 2nd week we will briefly introduce and then explore selected sections of each module (in the order shown above). You might then concentrate on one of them as your "project" or you might integrate some of the material into other activities. They include a tremendous wealth of background material, resource aides, active learning "tips" and so on.

References:

AAG Modules home page.

To supplement the modules we will also utilize a WWW-Resource List for the Earth Sciences used by an ESSE-funded course on Global Environmental Change taught at Westminster College of Salt Lake City (ESSE-Earth System Science Education).

Visit the ESSE site and particularly its ESSE NOTES to find many other ESS (Earth System Science) resources.

Other online resources prepared under the VGDP (Virtual Geography Department Project) will also be utilized--particularly those prepared by the "Earth's Environment and Society" working group (EESG). It is also an NSF-funded project.

For more global change information, see the Global Change Research Information Office web site.

People:

Bob Ford (Westminster College of Salt Lake City) -- Bob Ford's home page.

Workshop Outline:

(See the schedule for dates and times.)

To repeat, we will follow through in this order of presentations/topics:

Day 1 -- Driving forces of GEC and Land Use / Land Cover Change (LUCC)

Day 2 -- Population Growth, Energy, Pollution

Day 3 -- Greenhouse Gases

Day 4 -- Living in the Biosphere

Day 5 -- Think Locally, Act Globally!

After a brief presentation to the entire group you will be divided into smaller working groups to "actively" test and explore the modules.

Product Cost:

You may purchase single copies of these products (both the teacher's and Student Editions) for $16 from the AAG (see under References). You are allowed to copy materials for classroom use within certain limits (see the AAG/CCG2 website).

Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Environmental Science lpt@www.woodrow.org
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation webmaster@woodrow.org
CN 5281, Princeton NJ 08543-5281 Tel:(609)452-7007 Fax:(609)452-0066