(5-8) M6

Science Curriculum Preview Committee Clarification of Learning Results

Revised 07/01/04

5-8

M6: Give examples of actions which may have expected or unexpected consequences that may be positive, negative, or both.

Curriculum Organizing Questions

What were the consequences of this action?

What are some examples of actions that have had unexpected consequences?

Elaboration
More and more, the global system is becoming a tightly knit web in which a change in one part of the web has significant effects on the others.

Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks. NSES F4d.

Specific Ideas

All technologies have effects other than those intended by the design, some of which may have been predictable and some not. In either case, these side effects may turn out to be unacceptable to some of the population and therefore lead to conflict between groups.Benchmarks 3B2.

New technologies increase some risks and decrease others. Some of the same technologies that have improved the length and quality of life for many people have also brought new risks. Benchmarks 3C5.

Human beings use technology to match or exceed the abilities of other species. Technology has helped people with disabilities survive and live more conventional lives. Benchmarks 6A5.

Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population. Benchmarks 6A6.

In agriculture, as in all technologies, there are always tradeoffs to be made. Getting food from many different places makes people less dependent on weather in any one place, yet more dependent on transportation and communication among far-flung markets. Specializing in one crop may risk disaster if changes in weather or increases in pest populations wipe out that crop. Also, the soil may be exhausted of some nutrients, which can be replenished by rotating the right crops.Benchmarks 8A3.

Modern technology reduces manufacturing costs, produces more uniform products, and creates new synthetic materials that can help reduce the depletion of some natural resources.Benchmarks 8B3.

Automation, including the use of robots, has changed the nature of work in most fields, including manufacturing. As a result, high-skill, high-knowledge jobs in engineering computer programming, quality control, supervision, and maintenance are replacing many routine, manual-labor jobs. Workers therefore need better learning skills and flexibility to take on new and rapidly changing jobs. Benchmarks 8B4.

Risk analysis considers the type of hazard and estimates the number of people that might be exposed and the number likely to suffer consequences. The results are used to determine the options for reducing or eliminating risks.Benchmarks 3B4 (9-12).

Individuals can use a systematic approach to thinking critically about risks and benefits. Examples include applying probability estimates to risks and comparing them to estimated personal and social benefits.NSES F4c.

Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks.NSES F4d.

Developmental & Instructional Implications
Teachers should begin developing student understanding with concrete and personal examples that avoid an exclusive focus on problems.NSES p. 168.

Students often feel that most factors related to health are beyond their control.NSES p.167.

Examples

Back to Big Ideas Grid M Back to Standard M Back to Index

Curriculum Organizing Questions	What were the consequences of this action? What are some examples of actions that have had unexpected consequences?
Elaboration	More and more, the global system is becoming a tightly knit web in which a change in one part of the web has significant effects on the others. Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks. NSES F4d.
Specific Ideas	All technologies have effects other than those intended by the design, some of which may have been predictable and some not. In either case, these side effects may turn out to be unacceptable to some of the population and therefore lead to conflict between groups.Benchmarks 3B2. New technologies increase some risks and decrease others. Some of the same technologies that have improved the length and quality of life for many people have also brought new risks. Benchmarks 3C5. Human beings use technology to match or exceed the abilities of other species. Technology has helped people with disabilities survive and live more conventional lives. Benchmarks 6A5. Technologies having to do with food production, sanitation, and disease prevention have dramatically changed how people live and work and have resulted in rapid increases in the human population. Benchmarks 6A6. In agriculture, as in all technologies, there are always tradeoffs to be made. Getting food from many different places makes people less dependent on weather in any one place, yet more dependent on transportation and communication among far-flung markets. Specializing in one crop may risk disaster if changes in weather or increases in pest populations wipe out that crop. Also, the soil may be exhausted of some nutrients, which can be replenished by rotating the right crops.Benchmarks 8A3. Modern technology reduces manufacturing costs, produces more uniform products, and creates new synthetic materials that can help reduce the depletion of some natural resources.Benchmarks 8B3. Automation, including the use of robots, has changed the nature of work in most fields, including manufacturing. As a result, high-skill, high-knowledge jobs in engineering computer programming, quality control, supervision, and maintenance are replacing many routine, manual-labor jobs. Workers therefore need better learning skills and flexibility to take on new and rapidly changing jobs. Benchmarks 8B4. Risk analysis considers the type of hazard and estimates the number of people that might be exposed and the number likely to suffer consequences. The results are used to determine the options for reducing or eliminating risks.Benchmarks 3B4 (9-12). Individuals can use a systematic approach to thinking critically about risks and benefits. Examples include applying probability estimates to risks and comparing them to estimated personal and social benefits.NSES F4c. Important personal and social decisions are made based on perceptions of benefits and risks.NSES F4d.
Developmental & Instructional Implications	Teachers should begin developing student understanding with concrete and personal examples that avoid an exclusive focus on problems.NSES p. 168. Students often feel that most factors related to health are beyond their control.NSES p.167.
Examples