PERSONALIZED LEARNING
MASTER SYLLABUS - PROPOSED
Green Technologies and Water Management
(SCIN 182)
I. Description:
Students will examine special topics in emerging and existing green technologies from
the history of fossil fuels and their use to the new emerging technologies that are making
us more energy independent. The course will also investigate water management issues.
Students will explore theories that address the challenges and consequences of treating
water as a commodity, looking at water management socially, spiritually, ecologically,
economically, politically, and historically.
II. Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Describe the history of Fossil Fuels and their effect on humans and society
2. Explain the need for Energy and Power in our daily lives
3. Demonstrate knowledge on the different forms of producing power used in the US:
passive solar, active solar, wind, biomass and bio fuels, hydropower, nuclear power
and power contained in the oceans.
4. Write a proposal for the installation of solar systems or wind power systems for a
small residence.
5. Describe ways to make buildings more sustainable, environmental compliance and
monitoring, energy conservation and applications to transportation (mass or
personal).
6. Students will analyze the driving forces behind the historical and contemporary
development of water resources from a global and a regional perspective
7. Students will be able to recognize implicit connections between local, regional, and
global water paradigms.
8. Students will design a community outreach project that provides tools for citizens in
their respective locales to develop a water ethic.
III. Lessons and Topics
Competency 1: Explore the history of the creation of energy through the use of fossil fuels, wellestablished renewable sources and the future of construction and transportation.
Objective 1: Summarize the history of fossil fuels as a source of energy.
Lesson 1: History of fossil fuels
Topic 1: History of global warming
Topic 2: Effects of green house gases
Topic 3: Inadequacy of the electric grid
Topic 4: Use of fossil fuels over the centuries
Topic Mastery: Summarize the use of fossil fuels from ancient civilizations to our
current use and exploitation of the available resources.
Objective 2: Analyze the production of energy through the use of well established renewable
sources.
Lesson 1: Hydropower, Biomass and Biofuels
Topic 1: The basics of hydropower
Topic 2: Biofuels and the carbon cycle
Topic 3: Biomass as a fuel source
Topic Mastery: Research one of the main hydropower facilities in the United States
and explain its properties (head, water flow speed and average energy produced).
Also investigate how the US is moving in the direction of BioFuels by mixing them
with the gasoline sold at gas stations.
Objective 3: Describe the future of sustainability as used in the construction and transportation
sectors.
Lesson 1: The Green Building and advances in transportation
Topic 1: Designing concepts on a “green” building
Topic 2: Technology in electric vehicles and hybrids
Topic 3: Fuel cells
Topic Mastery: Make a plan on how you can make your home more “green” by
applying the concepts learned on this lesson. Also state the ways you see Apple’s
new campus as a more “green” industrial building.
Competency 2: Compare the uses of the sun to produce energy through active and passive systems
and the steps involved in designing and installing a smalls scale system.
Objective 1: Contrast the differences in active, passive and wind systems.
Lesson 1: Passive and Active solar systems, and Wind Power
Topic 1: Passive daylighting
Topic 2: Solar cooling systems
Topic 3: Photovoltaics and Photovoltaic (PV) systems
Topic 4: Principles of wind power and wind power systems
Topic Mastery: Describe the ways in which many states have embraced the idea of
these renewable resources and how they are producing energy using these.
Objective 2: Comprehend the steps involved in designing and installing a system for a small
house.
Lesson 1: Installing and Designing Solar and Wind Power Systems
Topic 1: How to install a PV system
Topic 2: Maintenance of PV systems
Topic 3: How to install a wind power system
Topic 4: Understanding the aerodynamic concepts
Topic Mastery: Design and propose your own residential scale wind or
photovoltaic system for your home.
Competency 3: Analyze water management from multiple lenses.
Objective 1: Gain a broad understanding of water management issues
Lesson 1: Explore historical and contemporary water management issues
Topic 1: Historical water management issues
Topic 2: Contemporary water management issues
Topic 3: Community-based water management
Topic 4: Global water management
Topic Mastery: Analyze the driving forces behind the historical and
contemporary development of water resources from a global and a regional
perspective
Lesson 2: Connecting local, regional, and global water paradigms
Topic 1: Local water management issues
Topic 2: Regional water management issues
Topic 3: Global water management
Topic 4: Connecting local, regional, and global water paradigms
Topic Mastery: Formulate a personal water ethic in a global society.
Lesson 3: Community Outreach Project
Topic 1: Explore water management in your local community
Topic 2: Investigate historical factors that have contributed to community water
management issues
Topic 3: Compare your community water management issues to global
communities
Topic 4: Design a community outreach project that provides tools for citizens in
their respective locales to develop a water ethic.
Topic Mastery: Create a visual presentation about your community outreach
project