O’Sulivan, Olissa. “Genius Hour.” Mrs. O’Sullivan, Westcoorparation, 6 Nov. 2011, jtds.barnegatschools.com/teacher_websites/o_sullivan__elissa_/genius_hour.

In digital citizenship, we conducted a project called Genius Hour where we researched any topic we wanted and then presented the findings to the class in a graded presentation.

I chose to research clean transportation, basing my project on what clean transportation is and its potential global implications. Going more in-depth, I looked at various forms of transportation that are considered clean, and assessed their positive and negative impacts. I also looked at our current transportation industry and how it compares to clean transportation.

I chose to research this topic because CO2 levels and air pollution are rising in urban centers. I wanted to look at one aspect that is fueling the rise of both these environmental issues, and I found that in the form of the transportation industry. I chose to focus on transportation as it not only accounts for a third of CO2 emissions, but vehicles such as cars and buses are what billions of people around the world use to get around. Given that so many people use such harmful and dirty vehicles to travel I wanted to find out if there were any cleaner alternatives. I decided then that I would look at the clean transportation industry, defined as “transportation modes that don’t involve the use of non-renewable resources.”   Clean transportation offers an alternative to the current and environmentally damaging transportation system.

Ejaugsburg. “Environment.” Pixabay, Pixabay, 18 Apr. 2014, pixabay.com/p-326923/?no_redirect.

My research question was, “How can clean transport impact the world around us?” This was an appropriate research question as it allowed me to go in-depth into the various factors of clean transportation and how it is more environmentally friendly than conventional transportation. The question not only made me look into the current transportation systems impacts as well as various ways clean transport can have negative social or environmental impacts.

I felt the project not only helped me learn about clean transport but also helped me develop my presentation and organization skills. Most importantly I was able to learn about a topic that I found interesting and that I didn’t have much prior knowledge about. I learned about more than just, “electric cars.” I learned the most common modes of clean transportation, and how they are more effective for the environment. I also learned more about misguided labeling, Clean transportation isn’t all positive, certain aspects of the industry can be just as damaging if not more than regular vehicles impacts. With such a positive connotative name the project has taught me to look more closely into a subject and go beyond first impressions. Finally, overall the process I feel has helped develop my presentation skills. By going through the full process individually I feel it has helped develop and work on my individual skills as a student and figure out my strengths and weaknesses.

Puri, Ritika. “5 Presentation Design Rules Worth Breaking.” TNW, Maxcon, 15 Sept. 2015, cdn0.tnwcdn.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2015/09/presentation1-1200×681.jpg.

By researching our effects on the environment, we can directly learn how to minimise the negative impact. I feel that by learning more about clean transportation allows me to make eco-conscious choices in the future and spread awareness about the issue to my classmates. In the future, this could be beneficial as they too would know more about our impacts on the globe and also make more eco-savvy choices in their daily lives. Only 0.2% of light-duty passenger vehicles are electric.  To lessen our dependence on non-renewable resources, that number needs to rise. Hopefully, by bringing this issue to the attention of younger people we, in turn, can make a difference when we grow up.

For my next Genius Hour project will also deal with the environment and also have a similar goal of spreading awareness on an important issue. I plan to do my next Genius Hour on the oceans and the threats they face. I feel that the general attitude towards the ocean, including here at ISD, is that the oceans are a massive expanse and that our daily activities don’t affect it. As a result, I feel many people are ignorant of our oceans plight. By researching and hopefully creating a good and meaningful presentation I can hope that I will be able to convey the message that the oceans are under threat and further educate my peers on the issue.

Rabibiana, Lisha. “Blue Oceans Dark Blue.” Pexels, Pexels, 7 Sept. 2015, www.pexels.com/photo/water-blue-ocean-dark-blue-37487/.

 

My presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mRTTtJMDG0p95ZFqM4ysHjJTmcOC3G8I_LWthVW6jVc/edit