Download Using Concept Wheels to Explore the Effects of

Using Concept Wheels to Explore the Effects of
Resource Development and Use
Energy
Devin Castendyk
Earth Sciences Department, State University of New York, College at Oneonta
Oneonta, New York, 13820. Email: [email protected]
What Are Concept Wheels:
Activity Description:
Uses:
Concept wheels are illustrations that allow
students to identify interconnections between an
energy resource and its upstream and
downstream effects. The energy resource is
named in the center of the wheel and is encircled
by effects and specific examples. In addition to
potential environmental impacts, students
explore social and economic ramifications to
create a holistic, balanced view of resource use.
1) Provide an example of a completed concept
wheel (see below).
• Drawn by the entire class on the first day of the
semester as an ice-breaking activity.
2) Have students complete one of the following:
• Used as a think-pair-share activity during class.
a. A partially-completed concept wheel
showing the central topic and some effects;
• Included as part of a homework assignment or lab
activity.
b. A blank concept wheel showing only the
central topic.
• Used to stimulate a class discussion or debate.
• Drawn to prepare students for an oral presentation
or research paper.
c. A completely blank concept wheel which
allows the students to select the central
topic.
Mine Pit
Lakes,
Pennsylvania
Acid
Mine
Drainage
Tailings Piles,
Colorado River,
Utah
Home
Electricity
Generated
in USA
Mine Site
Environment
Social
Home
Ownership
Jobs
Stack
Emissions
Power Plant
Environment
Increase
Savings/
Purchases
Economic
Taxes
Water
Quality
Monitoring
Alternative
Energy
R&D
Mining
Industry
Storage Pond
Failure, Tenn.
Site
Restoration
Groundwater
Quality
Safety
Iran’s
Nuclear
Program
Ecosystem
Impacts
Public
Water
Supply
Mine Site
Environment
Mine
Impacted
Water
Social
International
Development
Weapons
Security
in
Pakistan
URANIUM
Hg &
Acid Rain,
Adirondacks,
New York
Fly Ash
Disposal
Perceived
versus Actual
Risk
Landscape/
Watershed
Alteration
COAL
CO2 and
Climate
Change
Three Mile
Island and
Chernobyl
Mine Pit Lakes,
Saskatchewan
Industry
Landscape/
Watershed
Alteration
Ecosystem
Impacts
Public
Water
Supply
Mountain Top
Removal,
West Virginia
Groundwater,
Indian Point,
New York
Water
Quality
Power Plant
Environment
Economic
Stock
Market
Increase
Power
for
Industry
Thermal
Pollution
Jobs
Waste and Disposal
Government Subsidies
Carbon Free
Insurance
Long-Term
Storage at Yucca
Mountain, Nevada
Stock
Market
Increase
Construction
Acknowledgements:
Concept wheels were developed by Jenny
Webster-Brown at The University of Auckland in
Auckland, New Zealand.
Background image of a nuclear power plant in Cattenom, France. Source, Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Neclear_Power_Plant_Cattenom_a.png