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Chapter Two

The Context of It All

Part One

CONTEXTUALIZING CONTEXT - For a little context on why context is important, read the story below!
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Video Questions

Featured Hot Take

We all need a little context. How to get it? Pollsters help! And few are as informed as Shachi Kurl, the Executive Director of the Angus Reid Institute. She took time away from analyzing the news – and our opinions on the news – to join us in conversation.

We’re featuring this podcast across all five Nature Labs subjects. You might not like every course you take in school, but they are all related. By listening to this podcast, hopefully you’ll better understand why.

More on Shachi Kurl
  • Does polling inform better decisions? Does it help create more empathy for those we disagree with?
  • How valuable is it to have unbiased, impartial research to better understand public opinion?
  • Do you believe polling can be unbiased? Or can the questions that drive research polls be loaded or leading, helping create answers that reinforce certain perspectives?
  • How do we create more movements that unify, rather than divide? Does it begin with story?
  • How can a better understanding of our neighbours, and our nation, inform better stories?

Part Two

THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL HELP YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPTS YOU NEED TO LEARN IN THIS CLASS. YOUR TEACHER WILL SELECT WHICH ACTIVITIES YOU NEED TO COMPLETE BELOW.

Defining Your Community

Who are your people? Why do you need them? Get to know yourself and your communities.

Define

Mapping Biodiversity

What's your natural context? Find and map the biodiversity hotspots in your community.

Map it!

Understanding Your Views

How has your upbringing shaped who you are? Why is it important to understand the context of others?

Begin

What's Your Context?

How do you think we should balance people and nature? Start brainstorming your ideas and questions. * Recommended

Brainstorm

How To Research

You get that research matters, but how to actually do it? And how can good research drive good storytelling? We have the answers!

How?

The Curated Library

Understand the context. Use the Curated Library to compare and contrast different perspectives on an issue that interests you.

Find resources

Part Three

HOW DOES THIS CLASS RELATE TO REAL-WORLD ISSUES?

Inquiry Media

Can we save every species?

Go!

Further Exploration

Latest News

Exciting Announcement: Section1.ca!

News
Nature Labs is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Section1.ca’s Students in Democracy Education (S.I.D.E.) - a dynamic and forward-thinking resource that invites...
Read more

Tomorrow, We’re Still Canada

News
Well, we can't touch 'em all, Joe. And today, that one hurt. But being Canadian was never about touching them all. It’s about lacing up anyway....
Read more

Resources From the Curated Library

How your brain works and how it tackles problems

How your brain works and how it tackles problems Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: Khan Academy File Type: Video Overview: Learn about types of problems and common approaches to solving them. Web Link: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/executive-systems-of-the-brain/cognition-lesson/v/problem-solving

Compromise vs. Compromising: More of the First, Less of the Latter

Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: Thin Difference File Type: Article Overview: The difference between compromise and compromising Web Link: https://www.thindifference.com/2015/12/compromise-vs-compromising-more-of-the-first-less-of-the-latter/

A breakdown of design thinking

A breakdown of design thinking Bias: Centre Right Sub-Category: Design Thinking Source: Harvard Business Review File Type: Video Overview: A breakdown of design thinking Web Link: https://hbr.org/video/4443548301001/the-explainer-design-thinking

The problem with problems, and a better way to frame them visually

The problem with problems, and a better way to frame them visually Sub-Category: Problem Solving Source: Prototypor File Type: Graphic Overview: A visual look at problem solving Web Link: https://blog.prototypr.io/the-problem-with-problems-and-a-better-way-to-frame-them-visually-b3bb71f30baf

What is Context

Bias
What is it? Context refers to the circumstances, environment, background or setting that surrounds and influences a particular situation, event or communication. It's the information...
Read more
More From the Curated Library

Additional Resources

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Unit completion

Chapters

Chapter One

The System of Things

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Chapter Two

The Context of It All

You are here!

Chapter Three

We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know

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Chapter Four

Hard Stuff is Hard

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Chapter Five

Here’s How

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Chapter Six

Your Turn

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Chapter Seven

Dig Deeper

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Chapter Eight

Be Better

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Chapter Nine

Own Your Hypocrisy

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Chapter Ten

Keep Going

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Chapter Eleven

One Last Thing

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Chapter Twelve

The End (of the Beginning)

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