Proposal Title
Environmental Issues as a Node of Intersection Between Disciplines
Abstract
University structures isolate disciplines, highlighting our separate and divided nature, while the big problems facing society recognize no such dichotomies. Leveraging the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems, we can help students make connections between the concepts and skills taught within each disciplinary context, leading to improved student learning and retention (AAC&U, 2019). Extending these efforts across disciplines or departments can only strengthen the power and impact on the student experience.
We will present a case study – the results of discussion and work between two college professors – in which we placed a mathematics skill within the context of a real-world environmental problem. Specifically, we will explore how a minor modification of an existing mathematics course activity, the use of Riemann sums to approximate the area under a curve, can enrich student engagement when applied to the critical environmental problem of CO2 emissions (Pfaff, 2018). We suggest that similar integration opportunities exist in many courses across the university.
The brief case-study presentation will be followed by a workshop space for faculty and students to brainstorm integrating or embedding environmental issues into each faculty’s disparate courses. Faculty will benefit by coming away with new ideas to connect this critical topic meaningfully into their courses, regardless of discipline. For students, this presentation and workshop will encourage them to experience their coursework, not as discrete, but entangled and interconnected.
References
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). (2019). The LEAP Challenge: Education for a world of unscripted problems. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/leap.
Pfaff, T. (2018). U.S. and China CO2 Emissions. Retireved from http://sustainabilitymath.org/calculus-materials/
Start Date
27-3-2019 11:00 AM
End Date
27-3-2019 11:50 AM
Room Number
U-Hall 3-098
Presentation Type
Workshop
Disciplines
Analysis | Applied Mathematics | Curriculum and Instruction | Environmental Education | Environmental Health and Protection | Science and Mathematics Education | Sustainability
Environmental Issues as a Node of Intersection Between Disciplines
University structures isolate disciplines, highlighting our separate and divided nature, while the big problems facing society recognize no such dichotomies. Leveraging the interdisciplinary nature of environmental problems, we can help students make connections between the concepts and skills taught within each disciplinary context, leading to improved student learning and retention (AAC&U, 2019). Extending these efforts across disciplines or departments can only strengthen the power and impact on the student experience.
We will present a case study – the results of discussion and work between two college professors – in which we placed a mathematics skill within the context of a real-world environmental problem. Specifically, we will explore how a minor modification of an existing mathematics course activity, the use of Riemann sums to approximate the area under a curve, can enrich student engagement when applied to the critical environmental problem of CO2 emissions (Pfaff, 2018). We suggest that similar integration opportunities exist in many courses across the university.
The brief case-study presentation will be followed by a workshop space for faculty and students to brainstorm integrating or embedding environmental issues into each faculty’s disparate courses. Faculty will benefit by coming away with new ideas to connect this critical topic meaningfully into their courses, regardless of discipline. For students, this presentation and workshop will encourage them to experience their coursework, not as discrete, but entangled and interconnected.
References
Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). (2019). The LEAP Challenge: Education for a world of unscripted problems. Retrieved from https://www.aacu.org/leap.
Pfaff, T. (2018). U.S. and China CO2 Emissions. Retireved from http://sustainabilitymath.org/calculus-materials/
