This Earth Day, Empower Students to Become Advocates for Change

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Each year, Earth Day serves as a moment the world can join together for a common cause. We are taught from a young age to respect the natural world around us. However, oftentimes the key resources are not made available that empower and inspire change. In the latest digital update of Achieve for Scientific American Environmental Science for a Changing World, Susan Karr showcases the importance of understanding how we live amongst nature. This new update offers resources and enhanced features such as: new stories, decision point activities, videos, and visualizations, thus enabling students to take control and make decisions that can better support their communities and advocate for positive change.

Karr's Environmental Science for a Changing World focuses on using stories from real people. In partnership with Scientific American, students learn through a journalistic approach and are provided with real life examples that they can bring back to their communities and be empowered to make a difference. 

Though Karr’s work has been updated, the scientific topics stay consistent, and are focused on empowering students with tools and resources to become environmental advocates. The latest digital update provides readers with  unique stories and tools that better prepare them for the real world. Students are provided the opportunity to showcase their skills and understanding of course content. The update has six new stories that engage students with real examples and key visualizations. Also included in this update are all new questions in LearningCurve, new narrated lecture slides from Susan Karr, and some brand new resources.  

Teach using Real Stories

Real stories are key to teaching the real impact we have on the environment. In this text we take various different concepts and build upon them utilizing real life stories and examples. One new highlight is an all new and refreshed update for  Chapter 3. In this chapter we have added updates and new stories. In Module 3.1 a new case study is woven into the text showcasing A Wetland Murder Mystery. This module captures the attention of students by challenging them regarding wetlands. This highlights the fact that mammals are disappearing from the Florida Everglades, and why this is occurring. Written in a Scientific American journal style, it captures the attention of students.

Module 3.2 on biodiversity has some of the most significant changes in the text. This module tells the story of how Oil Palm Plantations are threatening Tropical Forests. It goes into detail utilizing the example of Indonesia’s shrinking forests due to the increased demand of palm oil rising. Students learn from real world examples paired with incredibly detailed infographics and adaptive quizzes.

Guide with Decision Point Activities 

Decision Point Activities are a key function in Achieve to help students better grasp concepts from their readings. These Decision Point Activities provide students with the tools to observe and understand the deep implications that society and business has on nature. These Decision Point Activities provide students with an engaging video so that they can learn more about a unique topic. Students are prepped for these topics with Pre-Class work that presents information about these topics in a video format, which then students can go on their own academic journey to learn more within the subject. These Decision Point Activities are then paired with in-class slides and post-class assignments to ensure students are retaining key facts and information. Some topics Karr covers in these Decision Point Activities are Overfishing, Feeding Cities, and E-Waste.

The newest Decision Activity which has been added in our latest digital update is about the Fast Fashion Industry. In this new Fast Fashion Decision Activity, it takes students on a journey to understand the negative impact that the Fast Fashion Industry has had on nature. The Decision Activity begins describing the textile industry and how it has been negatively impacting the environment through extreme waste. These activities then allow students the necessary tools needed to make a difference. The goal of the activity is to empower them to take these concepts back to their own community. 

How to Empower Students

The text Scientific American Environmental Science for a Changing World has the goal to inspire and empower students to make the right choices at home. It highlights the key issues facing our world today, and how we can take the right steps in making a difference. In this text Author Susan Karr adds a “Bring It Home” section, where she provides students with information to help their communities. It brings about discussion topics for key problems, and how students can make a difference on their own at home. This section is unique to the module being taught, and provides resources and information needed to help students reflect on what they have learned. Students from this course should be empowered to take the next steps and think critically about the natural world around them. Faculty can provide several actions that can empower students to take charge and make a significant difference in their communities for Earth Day:

1. Organize Community Clean-Up Events: Encourage students to plan and participate in local clean-up efforts, such as clearing litter from parks, beaches, or school grounds.

2. Initiate Recycling Programs: Students can lead by example by initiating or enhancing recycling programs within their schools or neighborhoods, educating others on the importance of recycling to reduce waste.

3. Conduct Environmental Education Workshops: Utilize the educational resources and stories from the updated curriculum to conduct workshops that educate community members about environmental issues and sustainable practices.

4. Innovate Sustainable Solutions: Students should encourage themselves and others to focus on inventing new ways to help with sustainability. Through practical action, students can come up with ideas that make a difference within their own communities. Like encouraging the creation of a student garden at school.

5. Advocate for Local Environmental Policies: Empower students to research and advocate for environmental policies at the local level. It is key that students understand that policymakers have a large impact on the environment. As they influence things such as bans on single-use plastics, promoting green spaces, or supporting renewable energy initiatives.

Take a Tour of Achieve for Environmental Science for a Changing World 4e