Environmental Change

The main goal of creating an interdisciplinary research project is to allow students to experience the interconnectivity of the discipline/subjects. This is achieved automatically when students see how different subjects interact and inform each other, and this will be the case in this environmental project. The combination of science, math, art, and technology, along with problem solving skills, research, writing, and innovation, offer a broad array of learning which when combined will produce powerful outcomes. 

Find ways to apply knowledge from one area to other areas and learn to hybridize concepts, join idea forms from varied sources, create without limits, and innovate new conjugations of thoughts and ideas. The will be apparent in the finished products, which will be combinations of data analysis, artistic expression, and language use all formulated for dissemination on an online platform. Using art, math, and writing to express scientific ideas, via a technological medium, connects the dots and makes this project truly cross-curricular.

Establish a love of learning through the connection of how learning through these cross-curricular subjects can be utilized on a meaningful topic that is directly connected to helping change the world for the better. This goal speaks to the student-driven and student-centered aspect of the project, which enables and empowers students to define the aspects of environmental degradation they wish to focus on based on what they see as the most pressing concerns. Doing this will increase their motivation, retention, and passion for the results. It could inspire them to follow through on their commitments to the issues and make something powerful out of their project.

Throughout the project students will sharpen and grow 21st century skills that can help them in future endeavors such as: creativity, problem solving, social skills, communication and leadership skills. They will use creativity when creating art, math, and writing products to convey and persuade the viewing public of the urgency of the issues being studied. They will use problem solving when they try to figure out the best way to go about this, and when they learn to put things together into a cohesive unit on the website. They will develop social skills by collaborating with others on the project, and by learning ways to convince others of the importance of the issues; further, they will become enmeshed in the most important social issues of our time, and thus become more intrinsically involved in society. They will develop their communication skills by attempting to communicate complex issues through a variety of subject-matter oriented products, and again by doing so through an online platform. Finally, the act of presenting information and persuading others to change their minds will give them some training in leadership.