InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Climate of Change
 Earth-focused Modules and Courses for the Undergraduate Classroom
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The materials are free and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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Initial Publication Date: June 24, 2014

Summary

In this two to three week module, students explore short-term climate variability resulting from atmosphere-ocean-ice interactions. The module promotes awareness of past and contemporary cultures and regions strongly affected by permanently altered or increasingly uncertain climates as students consider human adaptation to climate fluctuations. Students investigate the dynamics and impacts associated with climate variability by examining and analyzing atmosphere, ocean, and ice data; completing a series of readings; and engaging in group discussions. Materials and teaching descriptions for gallery walks, interactive discussions, group work, and lab exercises are provided.
Learn more in this video overview of the module »

Strengths of the Module

This module has a positive focus on adaptations to climate change. Activities provide students opportunities to think locally, regionally, and globally. They drive thinking about climate change and social vulnerability. This leads to better informed citizens, empowered to make more responsible decisions. See an example adaptation activity.

Students use real, current ocean, atmosphere, and ice data to learn about climate change. Activities provide concrete ways to learn abstract concepts like uncertainty, anomalies, and feedback. Students consider questions about climate and society for which they can't Google the answer. See an example data-rich activity.

Activities get students out of their chairs. A diverse suite of activities (gallery walks, games, discussions, lab exercises, and small-group activities) provides students opportunities to be involved. This engages quieter students, and both professors and students have fun! See an example role-playing activity.


Next Generation Science Standards Logo. A purple, orange, and green triangle to the left of the words, Next Generation Science Standards.

These materials have been reviewed for their alignment with the Next Generation Science Standards. At the top of each page, you can click on the NGSS logo to see the specific connections. Visit InTeGrate and the NGSS to learn more about the process of alignment and how to use InTeGrate materials to implement the NGSS.

NGSS in this Module

In this data-rich module, students examine data to understand that climate changes have always affected human ways of life, understand the differences between variability and anomaly, and predict how climate variability will impact ecosystems and people. They then calculate past rates of change of methane in the atmosphere and reflect on future climate. After determining where their own "climate personality" falls on the national spectrum of public opinion, they determine their own and their community's vulnerability to climate change based on data. This modules excels at helping students use data and learn from past environments to understand the importance of change in today's environment.

A great fit for courses in:

  • environmental science
  • meteorology
  • geology
  • oceanography
  • geological hazards
  • global change


Instructor Stories: How this module was adapted
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »