Combining World Language Education and Biological Engineering to Develop a Lesson Plan that Promotes Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Environmental Work

Author

Michelle ClarkFollow

Date of Graduation

5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biological Engineering

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Advisor/Mentor

Osborn, Scott

Committee Member/Reader

Kwofie, Ebenezer

Committee Member/Second Reader

Condray, Kathleen

Abstract

Tackling environmental and sustainability challenges requires a multidisciplinary and multicultural approach. Engineering and science are an integral part to these solutions. However, engineering and science can often fail to capture a diverse audience’s attention. It is important to find ways to convey scientific information to a diverse group, so that no matter their professional background, they can contribute to the protection of the natural environment and the lives of future generations. In addition, it is necessary to understand the importance of cultural competence and connection when seeking to properly communicate to diverse groups. A potential framework for developing effective scientific and engineering communication that account for cultural differences is through the combination of world language and scientific education. This framework promotes a holistic approach to environmental and engineering education, where students are provided with necessary linguistic, cultural, and technical details. The aforementioned combination of information fosters critical thinking about the interconnectedness of environmental issues. This thesis aims to develop a lesson plan that combines world language education with engineering and science based environmental education. The target for the lesson plan was a high school German class and covered the topic of plastic pollution. The lesson plan seeks to establish the connections between culture and sustainability, as well as to promote an interest in global environmental challenges from an engineering and science basis. The lesson plan includes data obtained from a Life Cycle Assessment done on water bottles in the United States with the goal of teaching the engineering and science guidance to students with a diverse background. The lesson plan was evaluated and tested by a high school German teacher during a German class.

Keywords

German, sustainability, multicultural education, LCA

Citation

Clark, M. (2023). Combining World Language Education and Biological Engineering to Develop a Lesson Plan that Promotes Multidisciplinary and Multicultural Environmental Work. Biological and Agricultural Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/baeguht/93