The High Rate of Asthma in the

New York City Public School System.

A Project Critical Web Quest designed by

Richard Williams

Mott Hall High School

New York City, NY

Rwilliams18@schools.nyc.gov

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever felt shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing? Have you had the feeling that your chest was so tight that you couldn’t breathe? Well this may be signs of Asthma. What is Asthma? Asthma is a chronic and non-curable disease which involves the respiratory system and which causes the airways to constrict and become inflamed.

Asthma is a widespread problem throughout New York City public schools. New York is rated one of the highest in cases of asthma in the Country. If you live in the Bronx you are 3 times more likely to get Asthma. This creates low attendance, less participation in sport and low self esteem. You probably know some one who suffers this debilitating illness. It seems more prevalent in industrialized areas like big cities. You have a chance to do something about this plague. You will become a public policy analyst in this web quest. You and your team will search for policy solutions to combat the scourge that affects us all. You will give a presentation that will be shown to Mott Hall’s Principal’s Health Committee and be publicized for all parents.

You might be saving members of your family, classmates or friends. Good luck. You have a daunting task!

TASK

You will give a presentation on Asthma in class that will bring awareness to this problem, and develop a workshop on the facts about Asthma to other students. This may require samples of medication, and models of the respiratory system. You may also want to illustrate the progress that has been made threw modern-day medicine scenes Asthma was first diagnosed.

This presentation will be a minimum of 10 minutes and will include all six steps of the Public Policy Analyst. You will use charts, graphs, visuals and txt in your presentation. The outline for the presentation will be the six-step PPA. You will use your Power Point presentation in conjunction with the presentation. The power point presentation is discussed in detail in the “Process” section of the web quest.

You will also be required to complete a Brochure that is eye-catching and a poster board. All will follow the PPA. These will also be described in the “process” section.

Process

You will be assigned to groups of five with the task of researching the problem via the inter net web sites that will be provided

Each group member will have a specific role.

Facilitator/Planner- You are responsible for the overall

Planning organization of the research and creating an

informational booklet base on the data collected.

Presenter/Reporter- Present the consensus of the

group and their findings

. Artist/ Illustrator- Design a poster or banner

representative of the group

Public Relations/Researcher- Research printed

material, and on the internet

Time keeper/ Recorder- Keep time and assist

Illustrator

Working in groups of five, you will create one of the following:

I. PowerPoint – Using Microsoft PowerPoint create a PowerPoint presentation of no more than 10 slides showing how asthma has became a problem in New York, evidence for the problem and existing public policies that deal with the problem. Graphics and text must be used. You may use charts, graphs, pictures or illustrations from Internet resources given in the resource section of the web quest. The Power Point must relate to the topic and must follow the SIX STEP Public Policy Analyst.

II.

The PowerPoint will be presented to your class.

II: Brochure – An Informational booklet created using information from your research:

Using Microsoft Publisher, create a tri-fold brochure informing readers about the health issues that may arise when healthy choices are made versus unhealthy ones. Your brochure should include at least 3-5 illustrations one of which must be a graph. Your Booklet must be well written, creative, proper use of grammar and punctuation Information must be organized clearly and be relevant Booklet must be 2-3 pages in length. The brochure must include all the steps in the Public Policy Analyst (PPA). An oral presentation on your brochure must be presented to your class.

II. Poster Campaign- On poster boards and pictures from magazines, Internet sources or pictures you have drawn, create an informative poster educating people on the seriousness of asthma and how it affects people. Consideration should also be given to treatments and the outlook for solutions to the problem. Posters must be eye-catching and any illustration used must relate clearly to the topic and can be read from at least 3 ft away. The six steps of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) must be represented in the Poster. An oral presentation on your poster must be presented to your class.

· THE PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST WORKSHEETS

· Follow the six steps of the Public Policy Analyst PPA. Each step contains a worksheet. These worksheets will be completed by the group, using the Internet resources, and will be used as the basis for completing your task products. The links are listed below. The worksheets are at the bottom of each web page. Complete all six worksheets then use them as resource material for your products. Your information will come from the “Resource” section of internet links and outside source material.

1. IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM?

2. FIND EVIDENCE FOR THE PROBLEM

3: IDENTIFYING THE CAUSES

4: EVALUATE EXISITNG PUBLIC POLICY

5: DEVELOP PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS

6: DETERMINE THE BEST SOLUTION

The facilitator of each group will produce an informational booklet based on the information gathered within the group*****

In your group, you will gather data from the Websites listed below in the resources section.

You will review the data found on the charts, tables and other data to describe and present the extent of the current problem of asthma in middle school children.

In the format you have been assigned, PowerPoint, Brochure or Poster campaign use graphics; charts and tables present the problem and possible solution to the problem

Resources:

General web sites

www.google.com

www.yahoo.com

www.ask.com

Specific Web sites

Respiratory Medical-Harlem Hospital respiratory department

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asthma

www.LivingWithAllergicAsthma.com

www.lungusa.org/asthma-The American Lung association

The office of Congressman José Serrano

Information on Asthma in New York State

Childhood Asthma Initiative: NYC DOHMH

New York's Action against Asthma

Air Pollution Affects Respiratory Health In Children With Asthma ...

Reducing Childhood Asthma through Community-Based Service Delivery...

Project E.R.A.S.E. (Eradicating Respiratory Asthma in Schools to ...

Study Finds Asthma In 25% of Children In Central Harlem - New York ... (A NY Times article-registration may be needed to view)

Evaluation:

This is rubric that will be used to assess your completed work. Use it to make sure you have completed all the steps and can receive the full amount of points.

Criteria

Points

	4	3	2	1
PPA Policy Worksheets Steps 1-6	All questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were clearly stated.	All questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were not clearly stated.	Not all questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all answers were not clearly stated.	All questions were not answered completely.	____
Power Point Presentation	- Clear and full presentation of material (10 slides) - Shows sophisticated control of elements of power point program - Demonstrates full control of language conventions	- Clear presentation of material (10 slides) - Shows control of elements of power point program - Demonstrates control of language conventions with very few mistakes	- Basic presentation of material (less than 4,5 slides) - Basic control of elements of power point program - Some errors in language conventions get in way of presentation	- Insufficient and/or unclear presentation of material - Little control of power point program - Significant errors in language conventions which get in way of presentation	____
Process: Teamwork	It is evident that a mutual effort and cohesive unit created the final product.	The team worked well together, but could have utilized each other's skills to a better degree.	The team had problems working together. Little collaboration occurred.	The final product is not the result of a collaborative effort. The group showed no evidence of collaboration.	____
Process: Originality	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high degree of originality.	The ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original. The group may have improved upon a previous idea.	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a low degree of originality.	There were no original ideas expressed in this project.
Brochure	-Illustrates strong evidence and causes of a social problem that is clear, creative and in depth. -Demonstrates high level of professional appearance	-Illustrates supportive evidence and causes of a social problem that is clear, creative. Demonstrates aspects of professional appearance	-Illustrates some evidence and causes of a social problem that is clear, -Little demonstration of professional appearance	-Little or no or unclear evidence and causes of a social problem -Unprofessional presentation
Oral Report	Based on PowerPoint presentation the research is clear and well articulated.	The PowerPoint presentation is clear but the research could be more thorough.	The PowerPoint presentation is not clear and needs more research.	The PowerPoint presentation is not clear and has no research.
				Total---->

CONCLUSION:

At the end of this web quest you will have thoroughly researched the problem of Asthma in New York City. You have used the steps of the PPA to help you create a brochure, PowerPoint presentation and an oral report. You will have informed other members of your class as to the social problem of asthma. You now understand the complexity of the problem of Asthma the difficult task that faces the public policy analyst. He/she must find solutions to these critical problems. Let’s hope you have helped in your use of the PPA. Thank you for being a concerned citizen. Continue this work in the future. We need citizens like you!

Standards Addressed:

STUDENTS WILL HAVE PERFORMED THE FOLLOWING STANDARDS:

English Language Arts Standards

E1c Reads and comprehends information materials.

E2a Produce a report of information.

Science Standard

S1d: Demonstrates an understanding of motions and forces.

S5e: Identifies problems; proposes and implement solutions

S5f: Works individually and in teams to collect and share information and ideas.

S7b: Argues from evidence

S73: Communicates in a form suited to the purpose and the audience.