Digital Media and Environmentalism: Using Statistics to Conserve Plastic Bags

To challenge and supplant undergraduates’ preconceived notions of statistics, a service-learning project was implemented to apply students’ knowledge of statistics to a current environmental issue. Throughout the semester, digital media were used to post students’ personal reflections on a weblog and film a service-learning documentary. Toward the end of the semester, students hosted a festival to raise public awareness on the consumption of plastic bags. Project outcomes indicated wide participation among students, volunteers, and community residents. Lessons learned and recommendations for integrating environmentalism into a statistics course are discussed.