RosieS

= Hi there! This is Rosie's page! =

//**Please scroll down to take a look at: **//


 * //**  My 3 journal entries  **//
 * //**  Link to Consumerism Survey  **//
 * //**  Other work from the STEPWISE project  **//



//Hi Guys! I know that you cannot access any project pages other than your own, so please do our Consumerism Survey here: //

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HGjxoi0W_3ho2JZT7bmhhFYkmMGAoAdJBvu8RXbKuoc/viewform

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 * //November 17, 2013 - Journal 3 //**


 * **X** || **Attitudes** || **Skills** || **Knowledge** ||
 * **Issues** || My attitude towards the issue that I researched has not changed substantially. I still believe//that consumerism has a highly negative impact on the environment.Such a prominent issue is hard to solve by yourself, so spreading awareness and doing what you can is very important. One begins to realize the impact a little help can have; we received many answers to our survey and many 'tweets of support'. As long as you are able to communicate with others (for instance with social media), spreading awareness will be pretty easy.// || //As I have repeated throughout my previous journal entries, it is very, very, very important that one must be able to work with the resources provided. One must also be able to differentiate invalid and irrelevant data from that which is __valid and relevant__ to your researched issue.// || //As is stated in previous journal entries, one must know what information sources are available to you. __Make use of what you are provided with!__ Also, when you are spreading the message to many people, you must know how to do so in a concise and polite manner, as not to bore or offend the audience.// ||
 * **Research** || //My own attitude towards consumerism may not be enough to prove to people that it consumerism is a prominent issue. As I said in an earlier journal, one must obtain valid and relevant data and information that will help convince your audience. Providing informative and educational info will prove useful as you present your information to others. Some people may never have even heard of the issue!// || //As I stated numerous times throughout my journal entries, it is __very__ important that you are obtaining valid, relevant and current information! Checking that you are using reliable sources is also quite important. The information available on the internet is not all current or reliable - info from many years ago is still posted, and information from 'unqualified' sources is also open for your viewing. Therefore, checking dates, statistics and authors is very important when research is being gathered from the internet.// || //Having a basic knowledge before hand, can aid in your researching process substantially. Think about it - you'll be able to tell if the information that you are viewing is incorrect or not relevant for your purposes. Therefore, some research or knowledge is required even before you begin in-depth research.// ||
 * **Actions** || As I said in my second journal, //I believe that there is an underlying urgency associated with all issues that affect the environment negatively. Therefore, spreading awareness regarding your researched topic is important. It is also important that your 'action' is informative and displays the urgency.// || One must be absolutely sure that you spread awareness and 'take action' for your issue in an //appropriate place, at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner. If you are conversing with a company or cooperation, appropriate language is expected. Even though you may be criticizing their methods or even asking for more information, one must always address, converse, and thank them in a formal and polite manner. These etiquette skills are very important for formal conversation both on the internet and in person.// || //One must be absoloutley sure to create an 'eye catching' and interesting presentation when displaying your issue on the web or to others in person. As I have stated in earlier journals (for I still believe that this is an important point) you must have the knowledge to asses your presentation and ask yourself these questions; Have a lot of people already used this creative approach? Is my visual presentation appealing? Can I improve anything? And just remember, what you post on the web will always stay on the web!// ||

//**October 30, 2013 - Journal 2 **//

PLEASE NOTE - the table was 'glitching' and somehow deleted the Research - Knowledge box. Please look below the table to find the Research - Knowledge reflection :) **Research - Knowledge**  //Due to the fact that your topic has likely been researched before, one will be able to find resources that can provide information to aid your study. One must first have a general knowledge of the topic in order to select valid, relevant, and current information to include in your project.//
 * **X** || **Attitudes** || **Skills** || **Knowledge** ||
 * **Issues** || //My issue, consumerism, has a high impact on the environment. Due to the fact that my group has limited resources, I must work with what I've got: for instance, knowing that most young people our age are connected with social media, we have decided that the easiest way to target and explain our issue is to use social media. The issue that I have researched and gathered data on can easily be stopped if people just put a little extra time into actions such as safely recycling and reusing. Therefore, if people know of ways that they can help out, perhaps the relevance, urgency, and importance of our issue will be recognized.// || //As I said before, one must be able to work with the resources provided. For instance, being students, we must use the materials that the school provides to carry out research and collect our data. One must know how to access information sources and see what data is already available and valid.// || //One must be aware of the different sources of information that are available for student use. Knowing that your issue may be not very well known, one must be able to explain the issue in a short and informative way, as to educate and target those who know or care little about the subject.// ||
 * **Research** || //My personal attitude towards consumerism is that it is something that needs to stop, or go on in a way that is safe for the environment. Research and data collection is a tool with which one will be able to spread awareness and information about what the issue is and how one would be able to stop or prevent it.// || //No matter what stage you are at during the project, one must make sure that the research and information that you are gathering is valid, relevant, and unique. Firstly, due to the fact that data is constantly changing, your research is current and of significance to your specific subject. Secondly, one must also be sure that the data that you are collecting (for example in a survey) is not commonly collected information - for instance, try not to gather data on something that is already common knowledge and instead research something that will 'grab' peoples attention and can also prove your point.// ||
 * **Actions** || //I believe that there is an underlying urgency associated with all issues that affect the environment negatively. Consumerism and electrical waste in particular,is something that can be stopped if awareness is raised about the issue and people are encouraged to 'make a change' and help stop this problem. I am excited to see the results of our four different points of action that my partner and I are taking to help stop consumerism.// || //As I stated in my last journal reflection, one must carry out the action in an appropriate place, at an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner. Even though the internet is being used for almost all of our points of action, we must not forget to be polite, respectful and professional when talking to coorperations and organizations (especially when you are criticizing their meager environmental efforts for instance). // || //As I stated earlier as well, a common or over used course of action may not be as effective or 'eye grabbing' as a unique or interesting course of action. One must be able to select not only an appropriate course of action, but also one that can be done with the resources that you have and the issue that you are trying to prevent.// ||

**October 17, 2013 - Journal 1**
 * **X** || **Attitudes** || **Skills** || **Knowledge** ||
 * **Issues** || //Most issues can extend farther than the classroom; you may need to go farther to find out information and collect data. Therefore, one must know the limits and work with the materials that are provided, knowing that some issues are quite large.// || //Need to be able to recognize appropriate and 'researchable' issues that one can work with to a moderate level.// || //To make a preliminary decision on an issue that you decide to do, you must have some background knowledge to base your decision on. One must also pay attention to current or recent events/occurrences involved with the certain issue in order to understand its daily importance and validity.// ||
 * **Research** || //An attitude towards viewing, collecting, and using research is making sure that all of the research is current and valid - this must be done in order to present current and reliable data results in the overall project. One must also have a critical attitude towards research and researching; only making use of the most useful and valid research////(that relates and fits with the project well)//// . // || //One needs to know your local/available research sources. Without this knowledge, your research will be limited.// || //One must always know whether or not the research found is 'reliable'; has it been created by a reliable source? Is it current? Does it seem similar to the other information found on this topic (if one website show statistics totally different than the statistics of five other websites, you should probably check the reliability of the site and its authors - a researcher or professional in the subject may provide far more valid information than that of an untrained individual.)// ||
 * **Actions** || //I plan to take an action that will bring attention to my researched issue. I hope to do this in an appropriate volume and manner, and raise awareness about my researched issue.// || //I will try to convey the action and present it in a way that will grab the attention of those who I am targeting. Therefore, one must always look into the interests and attitudes of those who you are targeting (eg, the population, the CEO's, the companies etc.) and be sure to place and take the action in an appropriate place, in an appropriate time and in an appropriate manner (eg. I am asking the teen population about water waste/pollution. Therefore, I would use Twitter to convey my message, since it is frequently used by that age group).// || //One must be sure to select a course of action that has not been too frequently used, and therefore raise attention through presenting it in a new and interesting format.// ||


 * Question 1 September 27, 2013 **

==== If I were an environmental activist, I would like to stop a few problems occurring in our world today. Firstly, I would like to promote the use and construction of green roofs on both commercial and residential buildings. Green roofs provide so many benefits for their host building, roof, and local ecosystem. They keep the house/building cool in the summer and help to insulate the house/building in the winter: this decreases the structure's environmental damage through using less fossil fuels etc. by not having to heat/air condition as much throughout the year. It also provides a place for insects, birds, and even animals from the local ecosystems (e.g. bees) to collect food, and shelter. The green roof could even grow vegetables so that the owners do not need to purchase them from the store - the promotion of local farming/growing. This issue matters to me because I have witnessed its positive effects not only on my own green roof, but on buildings such as TTC stations and huge car factories. If only someone could show factory, business and home owners how beneficial these special roofs are, maybe then this movement could make an impact and begin to create a happier and healthier society and natural environment. ==== ====Secondly, I would like to help keep the natural environment clean. Things such as littering, deforestation,  inefficient waste/toxin disposal, and urbanization can damage and even destroy an ecosystem. The protection of ecosystems is essential for the survival of our entire world! I would also be very interested in topics related to keeping the natural environment safe and healthy, such as acid rain problems, contamination by toxic and harmful materials.We, homo sapiens rely on our local ecosystems (that could include trees, vegetation, and animals), and the very survival of these essential ecosystems depends on us. A personal reason for my interest in this subject is the previous environmental damage that was inflicted by acid rain. My family owns a cottage near Parry Sound, Ontario. It is built beside a lake that was barren of lily pads and other substantial living organisms forty years ago due to acid rain. At the moment, forty years later, the lake has recovered (mostly) from the damage caused by the acid and is home to many different aquatic ecosystems and is relied upon by those living on land. If one was able to show the devastating effects of acid rain to those who cause it (factories - the burning of particular fossil fuels) and displayed the demand and request for change, the creation of acid rain may be stopped. ====