Part+4+(Alternative+Energy)


 * Goal **
 * Your task is to make an informative wikispace with embedded videos about an alternative form of energy (solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, hydrogen cells).
 * The goal is to convince others to invest their money in developing your source of energy rather than continuing our current dependency on fossil fuels.
 * The problem or challenge is learning how to film and edit videos, as well as uploading the videos to the Wiki.
 * The obstacles to overcome are establishing time to get together to research and film, especially as middle school students cannot drive themselves and must schedule time around extra-curricular activities.

** Role **
 * You are an advertising executive.
 * You have been asked to market an alternative energy resource to investors.
 * Your job is to
 * Create a wikispace that will house subjective and objective viewpoints in support of the alternative energy.
 * Research advantages and disadvantages of alternative energy sources, and use the information to highlight positive aspects of the energy being marketed.
 * Create a video/infomercial to let others know why this is the best for the future of all mankind. Post this video to the wikispace.
 * Add aesthetic touches to the wikispace, as well as any flyers or other marketing publications, so that viewers are invited to investigate and learn more.

** Audience **
 * Your clients are investors who would be able to fund advancements in alternative energy.
 * The target audience is your classmates, the teacher, and the average American citizen.
 * You need to convince your classmates and me that your energy is more worthwhile of financial and time-based investments than either continuing to use fossil fuels or advancing a different type of alternative energy.

** Situation **
 * The context you find yourself in is that we know our fossil fuels situation is grave because they are nonrenewable resources and they are polluting our atmosphere. Alternative options must be considered and implemented before more damage is caused.
 * The challenge is that many alternatives are available but all have disadvantages that have kept them from being the obvious choice. Students must determine what is the best of the options, especially for a wide variety of geographic locations, and they may have bias toward or against an energy type that might affect their ability to think logically and objectively about the task at hand.

** Product, Performance, and Purpose **
 * You will create a wikispace with persuasive information and a persuasive video/infomercial for your energy source.
 * You will present your wikispace to our class and be prepared to answer questions from the audience and defend your position in a face-to-face scenario.

** Standards and Criteria for Success **
 * Your performance needs to demonstrate what you have learned about energy sources, both renewable and nonrenewable, and the energy source you are supporting.
 * Your classmates and I will judge your wikispace and presentation after questions have been answered. You must convince at least 50% of the group that your energy source is a viable option for investment. (Each project will be graded individually, not in comparison to others in the class.)
 * GPS S8P2 Students will be familiar with the forms and transformations of energy.
 * a. Explain energy transformation in terms of the Law of Conservation of Energy.
 * The grading rubric is as follows:
 * ** Characteristic **  ||   ** Total **   ||
 * Alternative energy source defined and how it works explained || _/20 ||
 * Persuasive arguments given in support of the source || _/30 ||
 * Wikispace is well-organized and attractive to visitors || _/10 ||
 * Video is edited, properly embedded, and creative || _/10 ||
 * Adequate knowledge is conveyed and questions answered during presentation || _/20 ||
 * Judging by peers results in majority vote in favor of energy source || _/10 ||
 * TOTAL: || _/100 ||