Introduction to Principles of Sustainability
Learning Objectives
This learning modules aims to provide students with an overview of key concepts related to sustainability.
Task 1: Watch The Story of Stuff
First watch The Story of Stuff on Youtube. The video has seven parts. Take notes of the main points the speaker makes during the course of the presentation, and consider
- Do you agree with what the speaker says in general?
- Are there any specific points that seem a bit far fetched?
The Story of Stuff
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Remember: When viewing a clip on Youtube remember to start it loading, then pause the clip while it's buffering. When the red has almost covered the bar to the left of the time display, the clip is ready to watch.
Task 2: Collaborative Note-building
Visit the Story of Stuff google document.
Have a look through the notes that are already there, and add the two main points that you think are important from your notes.
Task 3: Discussion
Write a brief post to the course email group describing your position on the video. Do you agree or disagree with any of the points that the speaker makes?
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If you're the first person to do this, make the subject of your email - Sustainability.
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If you're not the first, reply to the last email with Sustainability in the subject.
Let's keep it all within the same thread.
Pay attention to the posts of other people on this topic, and reply to anything that interests you.
Task 4: Research claims
Your lecturer will assign you a group of students to work with, and will assign you one of the more controversial points made in the presentation.
With your group you will need to
- Meet with your group and plan how you are to complete the following tasks. You may decide that certain participants have strengths in some areas or would prefer to complete some sections of the task more than others. You may choose to split them all evenly.
- Search for evidence to back up or disprove the point in question (at least three sources). While doing this you should consider the source. Are they reputable? Do they have any reason for presenting a distorted perspective?
- Write up a summary of your findings in a paragraph.
- Reference the paragraph using APA referencing.
- Post your paragraph and references to the course email group