Taylor Kirk

Artifact Reflection #3

For this artifact, I was asked to explore a website called waterfootprint.org. I answered questions

ranging from simple to thought provoking based on this site. Later in the worksheet, I had to reflect on the

purpose of the site and create a realistic plan to reduce my water footprint. I had learn about what a water

footprint actually was as well as why it is significant to my lifestyle. I also had to learn about the

government’s role in the reduction and regulation of the community’s water footprint. In order to

complete this assignment, I had to first download it from schoology into my drive. From there, I was to

answer questions based on the the website and on my personal lifestyle. In some cases, I had to

investigate a certain part of the website or play with some of the features such as the Product Gallery.

This artifact represents the problem solving category in which is proposing and supporting a

solution to a problem. I had to research about water footprints and the people and organizations who are

actively working to reduce the water footprint and educate others. At the end of this project, I needed

propose a solution to reduce my water footprint in my own life based on the what products I consume and

how I live. When participating in this project, I demonstrated involved citizenship. The involved

citizenship PAMA SLO is the ability of students to show involvement in conflict resolution, inquisitive

learning, mentoring, and leadership within a project. I had to deal with the conflict of the increasing water

footprint in today’s world and as a resolution to the problem, I had to create a plan/goal to reduce my

water footprint. I applied inquisitive learning by the prompted questions. I needed answer them in order to

fully understand water footprints, the website, and the active movements towards reduction. I also

included the involvement of leadership when I was prompted to write a note to the future generation

about the world around them and the consequences of the overuse of resources.

This project furthered the precautions I take when I consume and has prepared me to make my

own judgements about the way we take advantage of finite resources. Outside of school, I am more aware

about the environmental problems of today’s world and it has helped me further understand the politics of

environmental science. I can now look at news concerning environmental affairs and understand at least
half of what others are discussing and their decisions made on these affairs. This assignment has prepared

me for the research beyond high school textbooks. I got to learn how to look at highly regarded websites

intellectually and thoroughly, which I am sure will help me for college and in the real world to be seen as

an educated person.

Sometimes the answers to the questions on the worksheet were hard to find on the website.

Because I couldn’t just look it up, I had to find keywords regarding the topic of the question to clue me in

on where to look. I had to explore the website in depth in order to answer questions. I could not merely

skim over articles and such. I believe I demonstrated my ability to provide information in detail. Many of

my answers provided the information required but in a detailed manner that made sense to the reader. I

believe I need to improve in breaking up the work into groups before it was due. The project was a little

overwhelming at times so, it would be ideal to better manage my time and workload.