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Global Climate Change: Evidence and Causes

By Maureen Knabb, Timothy M. Lutz, G. Winfield Fairchild

Global Climate Change: Evidence and Causes


 

Abstract

This “clicker case” begins by assessing students’ impressions of global climate change and the role that human activities play in recent global warming trends. Students assume the role of an intern working for a U.S. senator. They need to understand the scientific evidence for human impact on climate change so that they can advise the senator on future policy decisions. The case was designed for use in a one-semester introductory biology course taken primarily by freshmen and sophomores to fulfill a general education requirement, but could be used in any introductory biology course or in an ecology or environmental science course. It consists of a PowerPoint presentation (~1.6MB) presented in class that is punctuated by multiple-choice questions students respond to using personal response systems (“clickers”). The case can be adapted for use without these technologies.

   

Date Posted

01/28/2010

Overview

Objectives

  • Learn about global climate change and its possible causes.
  • Understand how scientists study climate.
  • Learn about the relationship between temperature and greenhouse gases (GHG).
  • Learn how climate change data is reported.
  • Analyze and interpret graphs and data.
  • Understand how human activities impact climate change.
  • Learn how models are used to predict future changes in global temperature.

Keywords

Global climate change; greenhouse gases; greenhouse effect; rising temperatures; carbon emissions; carbon sequestration

  

Subject Headings

Atmospheric Science
Biology (General)
Climatology / Meteorology
Earth Science
Ecology
Environmental Science
Geology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

High school, Undergraduate lower division

  

FORMAT

PDF, PowerPoint

   

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

   

LANGUAGE

English

   

TYPE/METHODS

Clicker, Interrupted

 

 

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