Activity 1.1.3 What Is Environmental
Sustainability?
Introduction
Environmental sustainability involves making decisions and taking action in the
interests of protecting the natural world, with particular emphasis on preserving the
capability of the environment to sustain human life. Engineering is the art and
science of using technology to solve problems. Engineers have played a role in
creating, designing, and building everything that you live in and use. Engineering is a
broad term used to describe a large variety of disciplines, each focused on
improving a different part of society. Environmental sustainability is about making
responsible decisions that will reduce negative impact on the environment. So all
engineers must be conscious of environmental sustainability as they invent and
innovate while solving problems.
In this activity you will explore a diverse range of problems that engineers play a role
in solving. You will research one of these real-world problems and produce a brief
video that showcases the role that an engineer might play in developing solutions to
this problem.
Equipment
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Smart phone or video recording equipment
Video editing software (optional)
Computer with Internet access
Problem Scenario Cards
APA Resource Sheet
Storyboard Template
Procedure
1. Choose a Problem Scenario Card that you and partner will profile.
2. Review the information on your Problem Scenario Card.
3. Use reliable Internet sources to answer each of the following questions.
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What is the problem scenario?
Identify and describe a specific, real-life example of this problem.
Why is this a problem worth solving?
What are potential solution(s) that an engineer might develop to solve
this problem?
What knowledge, skills, education, and training would an engineer
need to be able to develop these solutions?
What other types of STEM professionals (STEM stands for Science
Technology Engineering and Math) are likely to collaborate with the
engineer in developing solutions to this problem?
What type of business might this engineer work for?
© 2015 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Environmental Sustainability Activity 1.1.3 What is Environmental Sustainability? – Page 1
4. Write notes from your research in your engineering notebook. Make sure to
properly cite your sources using the APA Resource Sheet as a style guide.
5. Plan, film, and produce a 2 – 3 minute documentary style video profiling your
problem and the role of engineers in solving the problem. Incorporate the
answers to each of the questions from step 3 into your presentation. Be creative
in your delivery. Include visuals and audio in addition to written facts. For
example, you may choose to play the role of an engineer working on the problem
and conduct a mock interview.
When planning and producing your video, use the following steps to guide you
through the process.
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Outline the main points you want to convey and what you intend to show.
Explain the story, audience, message, and style of the video you want to
produce and why.
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Use the Storyboard Template as a guide to help plan and structure your
video. On the Storyboard Template, detail every scene of your video.
Storyboards typically include three elements for every scene: a visual or
description of what viewers will see in every scene, the length of time for
which the image will appear on the video (in seconds), and the audio
heard as the image is shown (can be people speaking, voice-over
narration, music, sound effects, etc.).
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Write the text that will be included in each scene.
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Film the video.
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Edit the video. Complex video editing is not expected for this project. A
variety of relatively simple video editing programs are available to use,
such as Windows Movie Maker, iMovie, JayCut, PhotoStory3, and
Animoto - that allow you to add soundtracks, voice overs, special effects,
captions, and titles.
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Publish your video by uploading it to a location specified by your teacher.
You may be required to upload your video into the PLTW LMS for this
course or to a class website.
6. Watch your classmates’ videos and take notes on the variety of problems
engineers are working on.
7. Using what you have learned from your classmates’ videos and your research,
develop a definition that broadly describes the field of environmental
sustainability. Write your definition in your engineering notebook.
8. Share your definition with your classmates. As a class, try to come up with a
single best definition of environmental sustainability. Write this definition in your
engineering notebook.
In this unit you have been introduced to some of the most urgent problems affecting
people worldwide. Engineers, along with other STEM professionals, work to solve
these problems. Throughout this course, your work will specifically focus on the
ways that engineers can use biological organisms and biological processes to solve
these global problems in environmental sustainability.
© 2015 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Environmental Sustainability Activity 1.1.3 What is Environmental Sustainability? – Page 2
9. As a class, brainstorm potential ways that you think engineers can use
organisms and biological processes to provide environmentally friendly and
sustainable solutions to produce affordable, renewable energy; clean, safe
drinking water; and sufficient nutritious food for a growing world population.
Conclusion
1. How might the human condition be improved by conscious decisions related to
environmental sustainability?
2. Imagine yourself as an engineer working to solve a problem that personally
interests you. Describe how you would go about preparing yourself to become
this engineer.
© 2015 Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Environmental Sustainability Activity 1.1.3 What is Environmental Sustainability? – Page 3