Introduction
Title: Clean Energy Green Future: Powering Digos City Sustainably
Target Audience: High School/Senior High School Students (Science, Technology and Society / Environmental Science )
Subject: Environmental Science & Sustainable Development
Topic: Evaluating Renewable vs. Non-Renewable Energy Sources for Local Community Application
1. Introduction
Goal: To get the attention of students and to set the background for them about a real-world scenario
Welcome, Environmental Consultants!
Our city is expanding rapidly with more houses, schools, and businesses, all requiring energy. Today, we still largely depend on the same energy sources- coal, oil, and gas- the ones that emit smoke, create pollution, and produce waste. They damage our air, water, health, and planet.
Your status is that you are not students; you are leaders. And it is you who will be shaping the City's face, for example, in 10, 20, 50 years. Hence, you have been invited to act as a group, a Clean Energy advisory board.
In other words, how could Digos City and Davao del Sur generate energy without causing a negative impact on nature? Solar, of course, but would we be able to capture enough sunlight and convert it into the electricity needed? Wind, as it turns out, we have consistent winds. Water power hydro. Biomass, i.e., turning waste from plants into power. Each of the above alternatives carries a certain number of advantages and weaknesses. Some are expensive, others require a larger amount of space, and others, again, are reliant on the weather. The point, however, is that all are more eco-friendly than the old way.
As a team, you have to base your decision on facts. At the same time, you should take into account environmental, economic, as well as social aspects. Then make a presentation of your proposal before the city leaders, teachers, and people who reside in the area. In case your advice is accepted, the energy system of our City will start to be a reflection of the way forward.
The energy grid of the future of Digos City is in your hands. Let's create it wisely. Let's design it to be environmentally friendly. And most importantly, we are going to be the ones who have done it; we are going to be the ones who have built it.
Task
Goal: Clearly explain the product.
Working in teams of 4, your task is to study energy technologies and formulate a Sustainable Energy Action Plan.
Your group will submit two products as your final projects:
- A Multimedia Slide Presentation (or Canva Pitch Deck) having 8 to 10 slides that shows a renewable energy source for the local area, elaborates the benefits of such a choice, shows the potential macrocosm impact, compacts the initial set-up considerations, and outlines long-term community advantages.
2. A 3-minute oral pitch that tells the audience your decision and deals with some of the obstacles like t
the cost, the land use, and the dependence on the weather conditions.
Process
Goal: To write down the detailed procedures and distribute the roles.
Step 1: Assign Roles (Groups of 4)
Your team members will assume a role each:
🔬 Environmental Scientist: Deals with examining the environmental footprint, the methods of decreasing the carbon footprint, as well as safeguarding the ecosystems.
⚙ Energy Engineer: Mainly concerned with technological components, the work of a plant at peak load, and site selection.
💰 Financial & Economic Consultant: Calculates the startup expenses, savings for the distant future, and economic gains for the community.
📢 Community Advocate & Team Coordinator: Takes care of public acceptance, integrates the policy, designs the presentation, and is the head of the team.
Step 2: Study & Exploration
Make use of the resources (see the Resources section) to obtain information and data on different renewable sources: Solar Energy, Hydroelectric, Biomass, and Wind Energy. Emphasis is on the climate, geographic setting, and resource availability in Mindanao, together with the Davao Region.
Step 3: Team Meeting & Finalizing the Decision
Have a session and discuss each member's input with the rest of the team. Then decide on your ONE most favored energy source that would be most economically feasible, sustainable, and best suited to meet the local needs of Davao City at the same time.
Step 4: Drafting the Presentation
Design a presentation deck with:
Slide 1: Title & Team Member Roles;
Slide 2: Local Energy Challenges;
Slide 3: Renewable Solution Offered & Mechanism;
Slide 4: Environmental & Nature Friendliness;
Slide 5: Economic & Financial Sustainability;
Slide 6: Challenges of a Real-World Implementation & Ways to Overcome Them;
Slide 7: Phases of Rollout on a Municipal Level;
Slide 8: Conclusion & Appeal to the Stakeholders of the City.
4. Resources
Aims: Quality references & web links to support the research.
Utilize these websites:
Introductory Guides on Renewable Energy: National Geographic Renewable Energy;
US Department of Energy Energy basics;
Philippines / Mindanao Local & Regional Setting: Department of Energy (DOE) Philippines Renewable Energy Portal;
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Renewable Energy Programs;
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Country Profile: Philippines;
Presentation Software (for free): Canva for Education;
Google Slides;
Evaluation
| Criteria | Developing (1 pt) | Proficient (3 pts) | Accomplished (5 pts) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research & Content Accuracy | A small amount of research was performed; the data is either incomplete or inaccurate. | More or less accurate information was gathered with few missing details relating the material locally. | Very thorough research has been carried out, showing an understanding of the link between the geography and energy needs. Also, it is well tied-in to the local situation. | /5 |
| Role Collaboration | Either the roles were not performed or the work was shared very little. | Roles were carried out sufficiently by the group members; there was also good teamwork. | There are distinct assignments with a clear role each person has to play together with integration of different views (science, engineering, finance, and environmentalism). | /5 |
| Presentation Quality & Visuals | It was a poor and unstructured set of slides that looked cluttered with text which was difficult to read and with no clear visuals. | Slides were organized well, the text was clear, and the visuals were suitable as well. | It was a great looking presentation with great slides and clear format, and one could tell the slides were carefully designed in harmony with the content that was being presented. | /5 |
| Oral Pitch & Argumentation | It was a very confusing presentation, the reasoning behind the project choice was vague. | There was a good level of clarity presented and the audience was fairly well informed with a few details regarding the different ways of implementing the project and the associated costs. | A great presentation that was highly engaging with a very convincing delivery and a good explanation of the various options available and the environmental/economic trade-offs. | /5 |
Conclusion
Goal: Condense what you have learned and encourage you to reflect upon it.
Congratulations, Friends! Friends have done an inquiry about energy solutions for our community. I am really proud of Friends.
During this WebQuest, the learners, Friends, found out about the scientific aspects of renewable energy and also through their activities they have come to understand the various decision-making processes that go into environmental planning, resource allocation, and civic advocacy.
I am proud of the effort Friends put in.
Reflection Questions to Contemplate:
What was the trade-off that Friends created when identifying an energy origin?
How can individual families become more energy-efficient while waiting for the bigger picture of renewable energy to be implemented?