Additional information
by Carla C. Johnson (Author), Janet B. Walton (Author), Erin Peters-Burton (Author)
What if you could challenge your 11th graders to figure out the best response to a partial meltdown at a nuclear reactor in fictional Gammatown, USA? With this volume in the STEM Road Map Curriculum Series, you can! Radioactivity outlines a journey that will steer your students toward authentic problem solving while grounding them in integrated STEM disciplines. As are the other volumes in the series, this book is designed to meet the growing need to infuse real-world learning into K-12 classrooms. This interdisciplinary module uses project- and problem-based learning to help students understand the debate over the safety and efficiency of nuclear power for meeting the country's energy demands. Teams of students will apply what they learn about the science and history of nuclear energy to convey the views of particular stakeholder groups and propose solutions to the crisis. At the end of the module, students will be able to do the following: - Explain how radioactive decay, nuclear fission, and nuclear fusion work.- Model nuclear fission, create computer-generated simulations, and perform mathematical computations. - Calculate the energy yield of an individual nuclear event (decay, fission, and fusion) and use exponential functions to represent chain reactions. - Identify the safety and environmental concerns involved in using nuclear fission in power plants. - Explain the history of nuclear energy use and identify key milestones that have influenced society's perspectives on it. - Make a presentation about solving the crisis from their stakeholder group's perspective. The STEM Road Map Curriculum Series is anchored in the Next Generation Science Standards, the Common Core State Standards, and the Framework for 21st Century Learning. In-depth and flexible, Radioactivity can be used as a whole unit or in part to meet the needs of districts, schools, and teachers who are charting a course toward an integrated STEM approach.
Author Biography
Dr. Carla C. Johnson is the associate dean for research, engagement, and global partnerships and a professor of science education at Purdue University's College of Education in West Lafayette, Indiana. Dr. Johnson serves as the director of research and evaluation for the Department of Defense- funded Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP), a global portfolio of STEM education programs, competitions, and apprenticeships. She has been a leader in STEM education for the past decade, serving as the director of STEM Centers, editor of the School Science and Mathematics journal, and lead researcher for the evaluation of Tennessee's Race to the Top- funded STEM portfolio. Dr. Johnson has published over 100 articles, books, book chapters, and curriculum books focused on STEM education. She is a former science and social studies teacher and was the recipient of the 2013 Outstanding Science Teacher Educator of the Year award from the Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE), the 2012 Award for Excellence in Integrating Science and Mathematics from the School Science and Mathematics Association (SSMA), the 2014 award for best paper on Implications of Research for Educational Practice from ASTE, and the 2006 Outstanding Early Career Scholar Award from SSMA. Her research focuses on STEM education policy implementation, effective science teaching, and integrated STEM approaches.
