RICHES of wyoming |
CONSidering the big question ....
Should the Global Awareness Mining Company expand its coal mining operations to any of Wyoming’s nine coal fields?
Task #9: As a class, share team results and agree on a final recommendation.
(The teacher or Minequest recorder will provide a copy of the Problem Solving Matrix for each student to complete this task.)
- EITHER: Under the direction of the Minequest Leader and Recorder, each team will present its written recommendation orally. As presentations are made, the recorder will list the proposed sites. Members of the class should jot down notes about reported findings for reference in class discussion. Once all teams have reported, each class member will enter the sites that have been recommended in the solution/prediction portion of the problem solving matrix. OR: You will be given a copy of each team’s written recommendation for review. You will enter each site recommended on your Problem Solving Matrix.
- Now the challenge really begins. To make your final recommendation, given all the points of view represented by various expert groups, you need to establish some criteria by which to judge each option. Criteria are standards you will use to judge your sites and help you identify which site would be the most valuable for the company and have the most positive impacts on the people, environment, and economies of the local area and the state. For example, one of your criteria might be the “local community potential to deal with expansion impact.” Perhaps, a team discovered that housing is already limited in the communities near one of the sites. A sudden and large influx of workers needing housing might negatively impact the surrounding communities trying to deal with a housing shortage, so you might give that site a low score on the matrix for that criterion. You may decide to choose a more specific criterion, such as “availability of housing.” In any case, there is no one right answer. Select a set of criteria that you believe will lead you to sound conclusions. As a class and under the direction of the Minequest Leader, brainstorm many possible criteria. Then agree on the three to five criteria to use to rate each recommended site. While the recorder will enter the criteria on the official matrix, each class member also needs to update his or her copy of the matrix by entering the criteria.
- Follow the decision-making procedure explained by the Minequest leader to agree on scores to rate each site according to your criteria. (Your teacher, Minequest leader, and recorder will have met to determine the decision-making tool you will use to reach consensus. Perhaps, you will use a simple show of hands to vote for scores or your team may be charged with agreeing and then reporting to the class.) The recorder will keep the official record of scores and then tally your ratings to determine your final proposal, but each class member needs to record scores on his or her copy for reference later.
Task #10: As an individual, revisit your class’s completed matrix and select any two separate scores. Identify the scores you choose by the cell they are in such as Change 3, Criterion 5. In a written explanation, make a case to support why your class chose these two ratings. Or instead you may write a “dissenting” opinion, explaining why you were in the minority and did not agree with the rating.
Task #11: As an individual, write an explanation of how the final site recommendation was or was not an example of compromise. Did some of the roles represented by teams have to sacrifice in order for the class to come to an agreement? How did the benefits or “pros” offered by the final recommendation outweigh the “cons” presented for that site?
Last but not least...
Task #12: Visit the Minequest Lobby and share your insights about discoveries you made in this learning journey. Share your discoveries and insights about research, teamwork, decision-making, or compromise.
Moving on ...
Check to see that you have turned in any work that your teacher requires for evaluation or to earn a class grade.
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