SUSTAINABILITY SUPERHEROES
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Sustainability Superheroes blog

Using 
​Using Entrepreneurial Thinking and Decision-making
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 an
​Created by:
University of South Florida Stavros Center
With generous funding from:
​The Coca Cola Foundation and Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, LLC
USF Stavros Center

Florida Educators Investigate Invasive Plant Species With Advanced Technology During Sustainability Webinar

6/22/2020

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Mexican Petunias
Tampa, Fla. – Florida educators from all over the state continue to attend sustainability workshops despite a current global pandemic. On 6/17, teachers came together to learn about invasive plant species while learning to use some of the latest technology for distance learning.

Sustainability Superheroes is a project created by the USF Stavros Center with the Coca Cola Foundation to provide training to K-12 educators on incorporating global, sustainable issues in their classrooms. The invasive species webinar was a huge success! Teachers of all subjects learned about Florida’s invasive plant species and how they are damaging the environment, while costing the state millions in recovery efforts.
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Air Potato plant. Photo source: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/
Florida spends $17 million a year trying to control invasive plants! Common invasive plants species include the air potato, which has absolutely no use, and mexican petunias (pictured above). These bright purple flowers are popular in plant nurseries and major retailers, however, they are a category 1 invasive species! They are altering native plant communities and damaging ecological functions.
During the webinar, teachers investigated the state’s most wanted plant species, while receiving Nearpod training and valuable resources to use with their students. This platform makes distance learning a breeze. Teachers learned how to use features like the collaborate board, which enables students to type in their own ideas and use pictures on a digital bulletin board. Nearpod also offers voting polls, multiple choice questions, drawing boards, virtual field trips, and much more. Teachers have complete control of managing students’ answers and creating a multitude of activities!
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Photo source: https://nearpod.com/blog/presentation-conferences/
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Part of sustainable education is not only encouraging students to help the planet, but also make smart decisions. The lesson plans and activities in this invasive plant species workshop incorporated decision-making and social-emotional learning to guide students in working well with others and solve environmental problems. ​​

Get the full presentation on invasive plant species here. It has the Nearpod lesson for you to use with your students and plenty of other resources! Sign up for new webinars on the USF Stavros Website! 

To stay updated with workshops, activities, events, and sustainability news, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter all @usfstavros. 
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Florida Manufacturers Still Struggle to Comply with Environmental Responsibility. Featuring Patti Gander of Florida Makes

6/15/2020

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Sustainability Superheroes is giving you another special look into the world of sustainable manufacturing! This is part 2 of our sustainable manufacturing series. View part 1 here.

​Today, we’re featuring Patti Gander, Business Advisor with
FloridaMakes. Located in Orlando, Florida, this manufacturing, industry-led partnership center works with small to mid-size manufacturing companies and helps them advance to their greatest potential. Their mission is to “improve the productivity and technological performance of Florida’s manufacturing sector” (FloridaMakes).

​As they are constantly strengthening and growing these companies, they consider several different factors, with one of them being sustainability. Find out how Patti Gander tackles the controversial situations that many manufacturers continue to struggle with!

What sustainability issues or concerns does Florida Makes have?

Left: Deborah Kozdras (USF Stavros Center) Middle: Patti Gander (FloridaMakes) Right: Marilyn Barger (Florida Advanced Technological Education Center of Excellence)

​Patti has worked with many different manufacturing companies and has even been a leader in a manufacturing organization for most of her career. She has noticed some continuous sustainability issues in this industry. The predominant manufacturers in Florida are rather small with 50 employees or less, and these organizations tend to lack compliance and understanding for sustainable responsibility. Patti says, “It’s not that they don’t want to comply. It’s that they lack knowledge in what compliance is. They believe that environmental policy and recycling are a cost to the organization and don’t understand that there are things they can do that satisfy both sides of the balance sheet.” This is why proper sustainable education and awareness is so important.
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Although social responsibility cannot be legislated, it’s essential to help recognize global issues. Awareness and improved social consciousness can help the whole world think greener!

Could you give us an example of a company that you worked with in Florida?


​Patti was once the plant manager in an organization, and they were planning on switching from a five-day work week to a four-day work week in an attempt to save money and energy. She says, “The overall cost savings in utility went significantly down. From an environmental perspective, you’re also using less energy.”

​In addition, the company even added timers to the air conditioning units, so the temperature would increase after a work shift, then gradually decrease before the start of a work shift. This strategy was beneficial to the company, the environment, and even the workers because they wouldn’t have to drive to work one day. Taking a day-off, saving money, and helping the environment? It’s a win, win, win!
Patti also shared with us about her visit to a company in the Everglades that uses waste from the sugar cane industry to create biodegradable products. Entrepreneurial and design thinking truly are strategies to improve the future of our planet!
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What are some sustainable problems you want to solve in the future?


​Some industries still need to catch up on being more sustainable. For example, the electronics industry continues to generate hazardous waste with the use of toxic chemicals. Patti believes that we still need more research in the inputs and the fabrication of products to be more environmentally friendly. She hopes to discover more ways to recycle materials and eliminate toxins. Substituting damaging operations into more sustainable methods can avoid a depletion in the limited resources that we have.

Test Your Knowledge!

After reading about Patti Gander's work or watching the videos, take this quiz and find out if you've got what it takes to be a sustainability superhero! If the quiz does work on this page, you can also take it here.

#SSRethinkTank

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Rethink the traditional circular flow economics model by bringing in entrepreneurial thinking to create solutions to externalities that cause harm to people and the planet. Check out some of our resources on the new ideas of a Circular Economy. Global business leaders are trying to find ways to replace the Take-Make-Dispose resource model with creative entrepreneurial solutions for the future. Conduct some research on the Circular Economy and find ways to rethink the way we currently make things so we can have a sustainable future!
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5 Eco-Friendly Activities to Do in Quarantine

6/15/2020

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​Things may be starting to open back up, but officials are still recommending everyone to social distance and quarantine as much as possible. This is a good time to learn about sustainable lifestyles from home. These are great for placing your energy into something good for yourself and the planet, while also relieving any stress or anxiety you might have during these times of uncertainty. Here are some eco-friendly activities to do in quarantine.

1. Learn something new

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Use this time to be productive and keep your brain stimulated while learning about the planet. Read books, listen to podcasts, or watch documentaries all about the environment! Maybe look into trying more sustainable meals and learning how to cook vegetarian and vegan foods. You can also join our sustainability webinars and register here. We discuss global sustainable issues, solutions, and offer teaching tips and lesson plans!

2. Declutter and redecorate

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​Quarantine is giving everyone plenty of time to declutter, organize and maybe even redecorate living spaces! Start with one room or small area, and continue to clean little by little each day. Declutter your closet and donate clothes you don’t use, so they can be reused by someone else. Amp up your office with eco-friendly paper and other desk supplies. Add plants around your home to bring more greenery and bring more life into your space. And finally, think of more ways you can reduce your waste and reuse more!

3. Create a recycled DIY project

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Extra time means more time to be creative! Check around your home if there is anything you would like to use for a new DIY project. You could turn an old t-shirt into a reusable bag for groceries or vacations. Turn glass or plastic containers into a new home for plants. There are endless sustainable DIY projects you can do!

4. Start a garden

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You might have some extra space in your backyard that you should probably brighten up. Start a vegetable or flower garden and plant whatever you’d like! Be sure that you don’t plant any invasive plant species, which can be very damaging to the environment. If you don’t have too much space, you can also grow herbs in small pots or reusable containers like glass jars and tin cans ​

5. Do a green switch

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Make your lifestyle more eco-friendly by switching to greener practices. An easy change would be to start using Ecosia, which is a search engine that plants trees. Spend the time to look for a more sustainable electricity and gas provider. With more time on your hands, you don’t have an excuse to put off these green changes!
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#SSRethinkTank: What should (or shouldn't) I plant?

6/10/2020

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To plant or not to plant, that is the question in Florida.
Join us in the #SSRethinkTank for an entrepreneurial thinking activity that begins with an image. This activity has three steps: 1) See (ask descriptive questions), 2) Think (ask analytic and evaluative questions to define what is broken), and 3) Rethink (use design thinking to consider solutions to the problem). With these activities, we can help students to identify, critique, and provide solutions to some of the sustainability problems that exist in the world. 

Here is the problem: Your neighbor heard that you are learning about Sustainability at school. She wants to plant this flower in her garden. What should she do?

Part 1

1) What do you see? In this step, show the image and tell students to provide you with evidence they see. This step isn't about inferences or opinions. That comes in the next step. You can also guide students through some descriptive questions (what, who, where, and when). 
  • What kind of image is this?
  • What do you see in the image?
  • Who might have created the image?
  • What about the caption?
  • Where was this taken?
2) What do you think? In this step, students make inferences and analyze the photo and the caption. Ultimately, this is a step where students think critically to identify a problem. The first level this step is to inspire students to use what they see and ask analytical questions that are inspired by the question: What do you think? Encourage the students to think deeper by asking how and why questions. 
  • Why do you think the person took this photo?
  • Why do think about the caption?
3) What do you wonder? Would these be a good choice in a Florida garden? What questions do you have? Research the Mexican Petunia with some of the information provided:
  • The Mexican Petunia (Ruellia Simplex) is widely available in plant nurseries around the state of Florida. However, it is highly invasive and since 2001 it has been listed as a Category 1 invasive species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, described as “plants that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives” (IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants)
  • Read more about the plant to answer some of your questions at the IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 
  • You can also watch this video and conduct more research online using the terms: Mexican Petunia Invasive Florida. 
3) Rethink! After the analysis phase, we work on an evaluation by asking: What is the problem caused by Mexican Petunias? After defining the problem, engage students in a rethink activity, where they use entrepreneurial thinking to create change. Tell students: "After you define what is broken, get in the Rethink Tank and design a solution."
​Here are some questions you can use to help guide their rethinking:
  • Reduce: How can we reduce our use of invasive plants?
  • Redesign: How can we redesign the system so these plants aren't sold in Florida?
  • Replace: What Native Florida Wildflowers can we use instead?
Using Native Florida Wildflowers is a great solution. Check out the information at the Florida Wildflower Foundation https://flawildflowers.org/ to find a different flower to plant.

​What advice would you give to your neighbor? Create a poster or social media post about your findings.
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Test Your Knowledge and Powers with The Recycling Hero Quiz!

6/4/2020

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Did you know that waste is one of the greatest enemies of our planet? Most of the items we throw away end up in landfills that release chemicals and greenhouse gases into the air. This is very damaging to our environment, as it can lead to global warming and pollution! Yikes! 
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Can you be a Sustainability Superhero and protect us from evil polluting garbage? Recycling (and reusing) weakens the evil garbage and helps stop the harmful pollutants. Do you have what it takes to recycle the right way and save the planet? Find out in The Recycling Hero Quiz!
Quiz adapted from ​https://earth911.com/
Resources
Here are some amazing resources to help you and your students to recycle the right way and save the planet!

  • America Recycles Day
  • Earth Day Every Day
  • Garbage Solutions
  • Meet the Lorax
  • Waste Not Want Not
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Florida Educators Receive Valuable Training and Class Materials in Invasive Animal Species Workshop

6/3/2020

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Tampa, Fla.– Amid the current global pandemic, K-12 educators from all across Florida are still participating in the Sustainability Superheroes workshops, created by the USF Stavros Center with the Coca-Cola Foundation. 
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The virtual workshop took place on June 3rd, 2020 and was hosted and produced by Deborah Kozdras, Angel Danger and Sherry Moser of the USF Stavros Center. Teachers of all subjects learned about invasive animal species in Florida while using some of the latest technology from home. They were also given a number of resources and materials for their students. Distance learning doesn’t have to be hard with the help of Sustainability Superheroes!
One invasive species in Florida is the Burmese Python (pictured right), which has been a huge concern. They negatively impact the ecosystem because they eat native species and do not have predators. Hunters are currently trying to remove and relocate them. Using a powerful educational tool called Nearpod, teachers participated in a number of invasive species activities, which gave them ideas to use for their students.
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Burmese Python
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Nearpod's voting poll feature
Teachers visited the Florida Everglades with Nearpod’s virtual reality feature. This could be used to take their students on a virtual field trip to anywhere in the world! Teachers also got to use Nearpod’s collaboration board where they posted ​their questions and pictures about Florida’s invasive species. Along with these, there are also open-ended questions, drawing boards, and voting polls that offer instant results. ​
Part of sustainable education is not only to encourage students to help the planet, but also make smart decisions. The lesson plans and activities in this invasive species workshop incorporated decision-making and social-emotional learning to guide students in working well with others and solve environmental problems. Check out the resources from the workshop. Then, sign up for new webinars on our USF Stavros Website! 

To stay updated with workshops, activities, events, and sustainability news, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter all @usfstavros. 
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    Created by Deborah Kozdras, USF Stavros Center

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  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Resources from Workshops >
      • Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG11
      • GLOBAL LITERACY: INDUSTRIES, INNOVATION, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
      • Buy The Change You Want to See
      • Save the Ocean
      • America Recycles Day
      • Ask the Right Questions
      • Birds, Bees, Flowers, Trees
      • Circular Economy
      • SDG 101
      • Earth Day Every Day >
        • Text Sets K-2
        • Text Sets 3-5
      • Energy
      • Frozen
      • Garbage Solutions
      • Gardening
      • In Kindergarten >
        • In Kindergarten Bees
        • In Kindergarten with Peter Rabbit
        • In Kindergarten with the Lorax
      • Rethink Tank
      • In the Shark Tank >
        • Business Model Canvas >
          • Ideation
          • Value Proposition >
            • Customer Segments
            • Value + Customer Testing
            • Channels
            • Customer Relationships
          • Revenue
          • Costs >
            • Key Resources
            • Key Activities
            • Key Partners
      • Industrial Revolutions
      • Meet the Lorax
      • Practice Sustainable Manufacturing
      • Secondary Science
      • Solve Problems and Make Decisions
      • Use Design Thinking
      • Use Text Sets >
        • Text Sets At-risk Turtles
        • Text Sets Adopt a Road
        • Text Sets Recycle
      • Sustainable Development Goals >
        • SDG Ask the Right Questions
        • Good Life Goals
      • Toy Story: Trash to Treasure
      • Use the Arts to Inspire Change
      • Waste Not Want Not >
        • Waste Not Food Waste Lessons and Websites
        • Waste Not Composting Resources
      • Water
    • Decision Making >
      • Nearpod Lessons Part 1
      • DecisionMaking2
      • DecisionMaking3
      • DecisionMaking4
      • DecisionMaking5
      • DecisionMaking6
      • Peter Rabbit Decisionomics
  • register