J. Scaglione, Bronx Aerospace High School

WEBQUEST

Introduction

The recent tsunami in Southeast Asia was a devastating natural disaster. It is estimated that more than 100,000 people were killed, and the damage cost is in the billions. The main factor responsible for the incredibly high casualty rate is the lack of a tsunami warning system in the area. Most people didn’t know a tsunami was approaching until they saw the wave, even though the earthquake that caused the tsunami occurred may hours before.

IS AMERICA PREPARED? ARE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFE?

ARE THE PUBLIC POLCIES IN PLACE NOW ADEQUATE TO COMBAT A MAJOR TSUNAMI?

These are VITAL questions now facing the President and the American people.

In light of the recent tsunami, the President of the United States is worried that the same thing may happen in this country. He has commissioned your group of analysts to prepare a presentation that will:

· describe the possibility of an East Coast Tsunami

· analyze the effects it will have on the population and infrastructure of the eastern coastal areas

· evaluate current policies that address disaster preparedness in these areas

· develop new and improved policies that will further prepare people and communities for such an event

This is a monumental job. You can save the lives of millions. GOOD LUCK to you and your group.

TASK

You will prepare a Power Point presentation (at least 8 slides), using the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) format available at http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/ppa/intro.html

The Power Point presentation should be creative, but must provide the following basic elements:

· A description of the problem

· Data and information on past tsunamis and the amount of destruction they have caused

· Factors that affect the number of casualties and amount of destruction

· An evaluation of current disaster preparedness policies

· A description of new and/or improved policies

· Your selection of the best policy and reason for your selection

· YOU SHOULD USE THE PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST TO GUIDE YOUR POWER POINT

The Power Point presentation must include a title slide with the title and your name, and a slide showing references.

PROCESS

To guide you in the writing process, you will use the following T.I.P.S. worksheets, available by clicking on the links. Be sure to read each one carefully before starting. You may also use the T.I.P.S. SPPA website to explain each step of the process.

Use worksheet #1 to define and describe the problem.

Use worksheet #2 to gather evidence for this problem.

Use worksheet #3 to determine the causes of this problem.

Use worksheet #4 to describe and evaluate the existing policy for this problem.

Use worksheet #5 to develop solutions/policies for the problems for this existing policy.

Use worksheet #6 to select the best policy for this problem.

You will use the Internet resources below as source material to complete your worksheets along with outside text.

You should also use outside text material as well. You will then use the PPA worksheets as a guideline for you power point presentation.

RESOURCES

The following websites are a good start towards gathering information.

http://tsunami.gov/

http://www.tsunami.org/

http://www.drgeorgepc.com/TsunamiMegaEvaluation.html

http://www.disasterrelief.org/Disasters/010831tsunami/

http://www.rense.com/general56/tsu.htm

You may also perform a Google search on the terms “tsunami” or “disaster”

EVALUATION

The following rubric will be used to grade your PowerPoint presentation.

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Content - Accuracy	All content throughout the presentation is accurate. There are no factual errors.	Most of the content is accurate but there is one piece of information that might be inaccurate.	The content is generally accurate, but one piece of information is clearly flawed or inaccurate.	Content is typically confusing or contains more than one factual error.
Effectiveness	Project includes all material needed to gain a comfortable understanding of the topic. It is a highly effective study guide.	Project includes most material needed to gain a comfortable understanding of the material but is lacking one or two key elements. It is an adequate study guide.	Project is missing more than two key elements. It would make an incomplete study guide.	Project is lacking several key elements and has inaccuracies that make it a poor study guide.
Sequencing of Information	Information is organized in a clear, logical way. It is easy to anticipate the type of material that might be on the next card.	Most information is organized in a clear, logical way. One card or item of information seems out of place.	Some information is logically sequenced. An occasional card or item of information seems out of place.	There is no clear plan for the organization of information.
Use of Graphics	All graphics are attractive (size and colors) and support the theme/content of the presentation.	A few graphics are not attractive but all support the theme/content of the presentation.	All graphics are attractive but a few do not seem to support the theme/content of the presentation.	Several graphics are unattractive AND detract from the content of the presentation.
Spelling and Grammar	Presentation has no misspellings or grammatical errors.	Presentation has 1-2 misspellings, but no grammatical errors.	Presentation has 1-2 grammatical errors but no misspellings.	Presentation has more than 2 grammatical and/or spelling errors.
Text - Font Choice & Formatting	Font formats (e.g., color, bold, italic) have been carefully planned to enhance readability and content.	Font formats have been carefully planned to enhance readability.	Font formatting has been carefully planned to complement the content. It may be a little hard to read.	Font formatting makes it very difficult to read the material.
Background	Background does not detract from text or other graphics. Choice of background is consistent from card to card and is appropriate for the topic.	Background does not detract from text or other graphics. Choice of background is consistent from card to card.	Background does not detract from text or other graphics.	Background makes it difficult to see text or competes with other graphics on the page

The following grading scale will be used:

Total Score Grade

30 - 35 A

25 - 29 B

20 - 25 C

15 - 19 D

0 - 14 F

Standards

Science Performance Standards:

S5 Scientific Thinking

S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.

S5e: Identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; and evaluates the accuracy, design, and outcomes of investigations.

S5f: Works individually and in teams to collect and share information and data.

S6 Scientific Tools and Technologies

S6d: Acquires information from multiple sources.

S7 Scientific Communication

S7a: Represents data and results in multiple ways.

S7b: Argues from evidence.

English Language Arts Performance Standards:

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

E4b: Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.

CONCLUSION

By completing this project, you will learn about the history of tsunamis, the effects of a tsunami, and how prepared your area is to avoid the amount of death and destruction seen in the 2004 tsunami. You also have learned the importance of using the Public Policy Analyst to evaluate and make changes in existing policies

Moreover, you will also learn internet research skills, how to create PowerPoint presentations, and how to use technology to learn.

THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION

LET’S HOPE YOU HAVE MADE A DIFFERNCE