I am a farmer, researcher, scientist, technician, producer, analyst, environmentalist, conservationist, and I am helping to change our world for the better. Technology and Our Changing World

Our world is changing, but some challenges are the same as they have been for hundreds of years. Where do you get water when your job is to feed millions and there isn't a drop in the sky?

Precision Farming A technological solution to the enduring problem: lack of water. Click here to Learn More About Precision farming in Nebraska and gravity flow and center pivot irrigation technologies.

Precision Farming While technology certainly has helped to resolve the issue of drought, there are other issues that surface when man-made solutions interfere with the balance of natural processes. The Ogallala Aquifer, the vast underground reservoir that gives life to these fields, is disappearing. In some places, the groundwater is already gone. This is the breadbasket of America—the region that supplies at least one fifth of the total annual U.S. agricultural harvest. If the aquifer goes dry, more than $20 billion worth of food and fiber will vanish from the world’s markets. And some scientists say it will take natural processes 6,000 years to refill the reservoir. (Source: Scientific American Magazine | March 2009)

To learn more about the history of center pivot irrigation, click on the logo below. Of all the early pioneers of this technology, who would you nominate for a Nobel Peace Prize in the field of science? How and why did you choose this person above all others?

Precision farming is just one example of how technology is helping to change the world around us. However, like most environmental issues, there are advantages and disadvantages to each solution. Students will be expected to: 1. Clearly state each side of the issue. 2. Identify and explain how technology has affected each side of the issue. 3. Choose which side of the issue they feel is most necessary for positively impacting/changing the world. 4. Write a defense of their argument with all sources correctly cited. 5. Finish by nominating one expert in the field who should earn the Nobel Peace Prize as a result of their technological influence. Students must substantiate their nomination. In this lesson, students will be asked to examine 6 current and debatable issues. This lesson aligns well with the Common Core State Standards integrating language arts, science and social studies. These new CCSS now require students to develop an argument with evidence versus simply stating their opinion or experience related to a topic. Begin by using the next slide to view related videos to spark students' curiosity and to start building their background knowledge on each issue. Next, ask students to choose one of the six issues to research further.

World changes: Which are natural? Which are man-made? Ethanol: Is it helping? Is it hurting? How close are we to running out of resources? Why have millions of honeybees disappeared? Where do you want your electricity to come from? How can we reduce global temperatures?

There are many, many great digital programs in CCC! related to environmental issues. Below is a search on renewable energy that shows 97 results. While this lesson highlights 7 excellent programs, this is simply a start. Help your students further their research by using the numerous other digital programs found on your CCC! Streaming Media system. Teacher Note:

Teacher Notes About Copyright Throughout this lesson you might have noticed the 2011 Copyright New Dimension Media tag. The meaning of this tag is important for you to understand in terms of your use in upholding copyright law. 1. You cannot distribute this lesson plan beyond your school boundaries. 2. Film producers receive royalties on their work and distributing these lessons outside of this agreement means they will not receive remuneration for their work. 3. If you enjoy high-quality media content, then you will want film producers to keep producing. This will only happen if they receive the royalties they have agreed to in their contract which, in turn, allows educational companies like us to extend high-quality media content to our customers. 4. Copyright law also covers the images in this lesson. These cannot be re-purposed and distributed outside of this lesson. Doing so does break copyright law. 5. We are required to say this in legal terms so our legal disclaimer is below: License to Use Lesson Plan and Content: NDM hereby grants to the Approved Teacher a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to display and use the content, images and methods included in this Lesson Plan. The license also applies to other Teachers in the Approved Teacher’s school District only. This Lesson Plan cannot be distributed or sold outside the Approved Teacher’s District. Restrictions on Use: Teachers shall not make or distribute unauthorized copies of the content, images or methods included in this Lesson Plan. Unauthorized use or distribution of content at unlicensed sites is a violation of intellectual property rights and subject to additional fees and charges. Trademarks and Copyrights: New Dimension Media, CCC! (Core Curriculum Content!) and other trademarks contained in the content and Lesson Plan are the trademarks of NDM. Third party trademarks, trade names, product names, logos, images, copyrights or other proprietary notices, legends, symbols or labels in the content and Lesson Plan are the property of their owners. The license to use this Lesson Plan does not authorize Teachers or students to use the names, trademarks or copyrights of NDM or its licensors or third parties except as set forth herein. Copyright 2012 New Dimension Media