1999, Stipes Publishing L.L.C.
Harold Hungerford, William Bluhm, and Austin Winther
This issue investigation and evaluation case study includes a skill development component which involves students in those critical thinking processes associated with municipal solid waste (MSW) issue identification, issue analysis, problem delimitation, identification of belief systems operating in issue situations, and the use of both primary and secondary sources in data collection (including the Internet). It also trains learners in research sampling procedures, data interpretation, the evaluation of alternative solutions for issues, the identification and evaluation of effective citizenship strategies for issue resolution and the production of an "action plan" for helping resolve the MSW issue investigated.
Thus, the issue investigation model permits the learner to become an expert information gatherer and data processor as he/she develops those intellectual skills needed for the successful investigation, evaluation, and resolution of MSW issues. A further and essential component of this model provides the students with the opportunity to apply these skills in a community-based investigation of an issue and the attempted resolution of that issue.
Student and teacher editions available. Grades 5 - 9.
What educators have to say about this curriculum:
"I've dealt with solid waste issue investigations with my middle school students several times. Students get very interested in a wide assortment of MSW (municipal solid waste) topics. We have taken, as an example, the broad topic of solid waste and then broken it down into different aspects of MSW. There are times when these investigations take on a life of their own. One such project dealt with the recycling of white paper. Those students are now in high school, and I have had several of these students come back and comment on that project. They think that it was probably the most outstanding experience they were involved in all year - and this includes the work too - the calls that had to be made for marketing the paper, the pricing of it, the collecting and carrying in boxes, the bundling, the storage, on and on. There have been many issue-related projects which are memorable!"
Versil Withrow, Wayne City, IL
"Within [the covers] you will find an absolute wealth of exciting and useful case study material, advice on how to interpret this, and an explanation of its relevance to personal learning in connection with the environment."
Joy Palmer, University of Durham, England
Journal of Environmental Education