magichite!
magichite! |
The Big Question for this Minequest:
How do the competing needs of various members of society influence changes in the way we live?
In this century of constant innovation and technological advances, we’ve become used to leaping forward into the future at an astounding rate. As accustomed as we are to these manmade changes, we make assumptions about the nature of the earth on which we live. With GPS technology, satellites, and views of Earth from space, little mystery seems to remain about the ground under our feet.
But what if ...
Imagine yourself in your dorm room at the University of Wyolming reading the newspaper. You've left high school behind and Wyoming has just made headline news. Read each of these articles from The World Gazette to follow the amazing discovery of Magichite ... and your rise to fame.
June 17, 2007
So, it’s the year 2008. You are enrolled at UW. The Governor has selected you to chair a task force to design a balanced approach to the development of a mighty mineral that has seemingly limitless potential. You must live with the kinds of issues that currently face the mining industry and the communities they live in. You must consider many points of view in your plan.
Here’s some advice before you begin. Where many points of view are concerned, never underestimate the complexity of the issues or the power of compromise. However, while recognizing complexity and employing compromise are tools of accomplished leaders, they can be double-edged swords. Watch for the ins and outs of complexity and compromise along the way.
Task #1: On your own, make a list of any facts about magichite revealed in the newspaper articles above. What are its potential uses? Is it found anywhere else? What other substances are necessary to process it?
Task #2: On your own, review the purpose of the task force. You must invite people who represent various interest groups and areas of expertise to serve on the task force. Make a list of the people you will invite to participate. (You won’t be listing real names. List the positions or titles that each person holds in the community. Example: mayor, city engineer, coal plant manager)
Task #3: As a team, brainstorm a list of questions that members of your task force will ask about magichite development. Consider the various points of view that will generate a variety of questions from members.
Moving on ...
Take your lists of facts, your task force roster, and your questions to MINING.
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