Teaching Risk and Uncertainty in a Changing World

While tragedy has struck an inordinate number of students in the past several years, not all areas of the country are at risk for every natural hazard all the time. To avoid having students feel like Chicken Little under a falling sky, the GeoHazard project uses simulations, data, experimentation, and scientific argumentation to teach about risk and uncertainty. We have created three scaffolded online modules focused on hurricanes, wildfires, and inland flooding to help teach these concepts. Through investigations using both simulations and real-world data, these curriculum units introduce students to the scientific factors responsible for these hazards and provide practice in interpreting forecasts. The end goal is to bolster students’ confidence in their ability to make reasonable assessments about risk.

Lord, T. (2022, September 16). Teaching risk and uncertainty in a changing world. Concord Consortium Blog. https://concord.org/blog/teaching-risk-and-uncertainty-in-a-changing-wo…