Map Out

Engage students in activities that help them develop understanding of the nature and scope of the system under analysis

At the start of the lesson it is important to:

1) Introduce the selected socio-environmental or socio-scientific problem or phenomenon

2) Engage students in a first analysis of the subsystems (e.g., physical, chemical, biological, environmental, social, political, economic) in interaction and the factors that affect them

Use this work to create an introductory overall view of the nature and complexity of the problem or phenomenon to be analyzed.

During the "map out" phases of a lesson, students are introduced to the socioenvironmental problem under analysis to identify the subsystems in interaction. This phase should allow them to develop an overall view of the nature and complexity of the problem or phenomenon to be analyzed.

As illustrated in the example module on greenhouse gases, this can be accomplished by engaging students in activities that ask them to analyze the emission spectra of the Sun and our planet. They will use their prior knowledge to build an initial system map identifying possible components of the chemical systems under analysis and their interactions. These activities seek to create a need to know and opportunities for students to activate and share prior knowledge and experiences related to the phenomenon.