Student ConclusionsMaglev

Using a Regional High Speed Rail Transportation Model in Social Studies Classroom Applications

Keith L. WhiteRaymond S. Kellis High School - Peoria Unified School District

Introduction

National Standards: Social StudiesCurriculum Standards for Social Studies (NCSS) Theme III: People. Places, and Environment, Theme VII: Production, Distribution, and Consumption.

National Standards: EconomicsContent Standard 15; “Investment in factories, machinery, new technology, and the health, education and training of people can raise future standards of living.” Content Standard 16; “There is an economic role for government to play in a market economy whenever the benefits of a government policy outweigh its costs.” Content Standard 17; “Costs of government policies sometimes exceed benefits.”

National Standards: GeographyGeography Standard 9: Human Systems; The Characteristics, distribution, and migration of human populations on earth’s surface. Geography Standard 11: Human Systems; The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on earth’s surface. Geography Standard 14: Environment and Society; How human actions modify the physical environment.

EuropeEurope

AsiaAsia

Amtrak Acela Express

Key Transportation Problems for Consideration

Many of our national highways and major airports are overloaded past capacity and must be vastly expanded to meet projected demand. New York area airport delays due to extreme congestion ripples throughout the entire air transport system. Many of our highways, roads, bridges, rails and airports are in dire need of major maintenance and upgrades, or even replacement, all at high investment costs. Projected transportation demand is to double and there is no possible way to double all highways and airports to meet this demand. Our highways and autos are the primary cause of global warming claims. Air and auto (as well as semi truck) are currently all finite resource oil based.

Student-Classroom Application

Sample Model: Tucson-Phoenix-Los Angeles Corridor

Issue (problem) Based Student Learning

Application of time factors can now be applied and compared to alternative transport methods: using mileage and speed, I set up a timetable for 6 trains each way. I could then view various traffic segments and analyze problems of speed (vs. commercial air or private auto), convenience in selected markets (Tucson-Phoenix, Los Angeles-Phoenix, and Palm Springs Los Angeles) based on the available departure and arrival times.Problems with connectivity to airports and other long distance rail lines can be coordinated for maximum convenience.The route map comes alive and is more realistic: I chose 6 one way trains and timed them to utilize one train for each round trip. (Based on the time table results showing possible utilization.) This will require a total capital investment of six rail equipment packages. I could also look for maintenance rotation opportunities and take trains out of service which I did on Saturday nights. This increased efficiency with capital and resources.Ridership could be estimated based on surrounding population.I can use the timetable to explain benefits of using rail. (Advertisements, panel discussions, marketing efforts, etc.)The maintenance barn will be located in Tucson. Operations will be located in Phoenix. Reservations and support will be located in Tempe.Rapid Regional Rail (RRR) will be the name I select for marketing.

Issue (Problem) Based Learning

Model Corridor Timetable

Possible conclusions from the example model using the Tucson-Phoenix-Los Angeles corridor include: Travel time in selected markets is reduced:

Los Angeles

Yuma Phoenix

Ontario 0:23

Indio/ Palm Springs 1:17

Yuma 2:20

Phoenix 3:59 1:39

Mesa 4:15 1:55 0:16

Tucson 5:24 3:04 1:25

Service frequency 6x daily with capacity @ 300 passengers per trip or 1800 passenger daily. (12,600 passenger capacity weekly, annualized 655,200 passengers at capacity)Total mileage end to end is 546 completed in 5 hours and 38 minutes with an average speed of 97 miles per hour. 546 miles / 5.63 hours = 97mph For the most part, the high speed corridor will be time competitive (see table above) with both commercial air transport as well as private automobile and inter city motor coach.Connectivity to airports including Los Angeles (LAX), Ontario (ONT), Phoenix (PHX) and Tucson (TUS) improved feed with a possible reduction in airport congestion and improved on-time operations for longer haul and overseas flights. Also, long distance rail would connect as Los Angeles (north/south bound), San Bernardino (north/south bound), and Tucson. (eastbound) Future connectivity could include Tucson south to Nogales (existing track) and into Mexico as well as new track west at Niland to San Diego.Downtown depot locations of Los Angeles, Yuma, Phoenix, and Tucson could be renovated and revitalized into vibrant retail, restaurant and hotel venues. In addition, new downtown depots could be constructed in San Bernardino, Mesa and Tempe with similar retail venues.

Educational TaxonomyMarzano’s analysis process, which has a primary focus of Marzano’s analysis process, which has a primary focus of allowing the higher level thinking process to flourish without allowing the higher level thinking process to flourish without predetermined challenge, has relevant application here: predetermined challenge, has relevant application here: Justification in the areas of matching, classifying, analyzing Justification in the areas of matching, classifying, analyzing errors, generalizing and specifying, all with inherent errors, generalizing and specifying, all with inherent evaluation and synthesis. In recent years, Marzano has evaluation and synthesis. In recent years, Marzano has emerged to be preferred over the traditional Bloom emerged to be preferred over the traditional Bloom taxonomy which synthesis and evaluation are considered taxonomy which synthesis and evaluation are considered separately and are not part of analysis. separately and are not part of analysis. However, this application can also produce student However, this application can also produce student challenge under Bloom’s taxonomy with the steps required challenge under Bloom’s taxonomy with the steps required to execute the thinking process using the broad analysis as to execute the thinking process using the broad analysis as well as recall, comprehension, application, synthesis and well as recall, comprehension, application, synthesis and evaluation.evaluation.

•Written analysis•Oral classroom presentation•Power point or other visual report•Group panel•City council (or similar regional government) debate•Comparative cost/benefit analysis •(All of which would include reading, writing, and math skills typical in exit testing practice.)

Student Presentation OptionsComparative High Speed Rail

One of the most challenging components of effective teaching and instruction is to engage students with real and current event problems which allow an opportunity to apply objectives with possible conclusions in solving the problem. Effectively, the conclusions are supported with appropriate justification and the activity is aligned to the standards and desired outcomes. Students develop an increased interest from relevant “hands on” activities and gain a higher level of appreciation of problem analysis.

Social Studies ApplicationsMajor real world problems associated with transportation include energy availability and efficiency, congestion, pollution, distribution costs, marginal theory, infrastructure maintenance, speed, distance, perishable factors, labor, population density, competition, government regulations, private enterprise, profit motive, climate, terrain, and economic growth.

The Shanghai (China) Trans Rapid Maglev

The speed display located at the front of each passenger rail car. The Maglev averages over 200 mph. However, the Maglev can reach speeds as high as 360 mph!

The 30 kilometer Maglev track running from Pudong Int. Airport to downtown Shanghai was completed at a total cost of $1.2 billion. The trip takes 8-minutes one way.