RESEARCH IN
THE NAME OF A CURE:
ETHICAL
CONCERNS REGARDING FETAL TISSUE RESEARCH
A WebQuest for
Living Environment Students
Designed by
Andrew DiDonato
Introduction: You are a member of an award
winning college debate team. President Bush has selected your team along with
eight other collage teams from all over the country. President Bush is in the
process of making policy dealing with weather or not research on human embryonic
stem cells is ethical, and what if any thing should be done. The president is
in the position of doing nothing, completely banning the research or regulating
it in one way or another. Both scientific and religious groups have lobbied him
heavily in an attempt to promote the pros of their argument and the cons of
their opposition’s arguments. The
President has charged all of you with helping him decide what the domestic
policy on “embryonic” stem cell research should be. More specifically is the current
policy adequate, and if not what should be changed. President Bush has asked
that your team research the topic and consider each of the many scientific and
religious groups’ points of view. Furthermore he has cautioned each team to
render an impartial opinion based on the facts and findings of their team.
The
Task:
President Bush wants each team to research the topic
of embryonic stem cell research on the Internet. He wants each team to take a
position on stem cell research either for or against it and defend it. He wants
to know what major organizations are for or against it and why He wants to
stage a debate between opposing teams at the White House. President Bush will
make his decision based on your research and debates. He wants to see a work
sheet from each team that includes all of the following;
1.
Detailed
use of the PPA
web site as a resource
2.
List
and number all web sites used, example (cell.com, (1)) and for each question
answered indicate the number of the site where you found the answer, (1).
3.
What
is a human stem cell?
4.
Where
do researchers get human stem cells?
5.
What
is the current policy regarding stem cell research?
6.
What
are the major positions for or against stem cell research?
7.
Who
supports stem cell research?
8.
What
are the potential benefits of stem cell research?
9.
Who
opposes stem cell research?
10. What are the ethical reasons
that stem cell research is opposed?
11. What is the position of your team and why?
12. Considering your teams position what policy changes would you
recommend that president Bush make?
13. On the TIPS web site use the public policy analyst cost and benefit
page.
Process
Part 1:
Team Organization (to be
done in class)
1.
You
will work in teams. Each team will be comprised of a partnership of two
students working together. You may pick a partner or you will be assigned one.
KEEP IN MIND, 30 % of your project grade is based on your contribution to the
project and how you work together with your partner as a team.
2.
Your
team will pick a college to represent and will take the name of that college.
For example the Lehman team or the NYU team.
3.
Each
team member will be assigned a job either as the researcher (responsible for
selecting websites then guiding your team) or the recorder/presenter
(responsible for recording data on the research work sheet and organizing their
argument for the debate).
4.
Each
team will sit together in the computer lab. The researcher will work as
follows; click on one of the hyperlinks provided and search the web site for
answers to the questions, both team members will review the site and discuss
what information they will use, search as many sites as you need. The recorder
will fill in the project work sheet on the other computer.
Process
Part 2:
Project Organization (to be
done in the computer lab)
1.
Each
of you will be assigned a computer terminal seat next to your teammate.
2.
We
will go over lab rules and computer start up/shut down.
3.
The
recorder of each team will open the Web Quest file on the shared p: drive and
scroll down to the student work sheet.
4.
The
researcher of each team will open the Web Quest file on the shared p: drive and
scroll down to the web links page.
5.
With
the guidance of the recorder, the researcher will surf through one web site at
a time looking for information, to answer the questions on the work sheet.
6.
Each
team will discuss the question, and agree on the best possible answer using the
information provided on the web sites.
7.
Computer
lab time is limited to 2 class periods so if your team needs more time to
complete the project, you are responsible to complete it after school. Note I
will arrange for lab time after school.
Encyclopedia Britannica
|
|
|
Stem cell research and the
Catholic Church |
|
|
What is a Stem cell? |
|
|
The Why files guide to
stem cell research |
http://whyfiles.org/127stem_cell/index.html |
|
High school bioethics |
|
|
The coalition of Americans
for research ethics |
http://www.stemcellresearch.org/ |
|
Yahoo |
|
|
Public Policy Analyst,
Steps |
http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips/welcome.html |
|
Student Work Sheet |
|
1.What is a human stem
cell? |
|
2. Where do researchers
get human stem cells? |
|
3. What is the current
policy regarding stem cell research? |
|
4. What are the major
positions for or against stem cell research? |
|
5. Who supports stem cell
research? |
|
6. Who opposes stem cell
research? |
|
7.What are the potential benefits
of stem cell research? |
|
8.What are the ethical
reasons that stem cell research is opposed? |
|
9.What is the position of
your team and why? |
|
10.Considering your team’s
position what policy changes would you recommend that president Bush make? |
|
11.On the PPA web site use
the public policy analyst cost and benefit page. |
Evaluation
Each student will be evaluated and graded on the following
criteria. Note to receive an “A” you must do above satisfactory work in two of
the four categories.
|
Categories |
Developing
|
Satisfactory |
Exemplary |
Score |
|
Team
Work, Both in the computer lab and debate 30% |
Worked
collectively with your partner |
Worked
collectively with your partner, showed maturity and courtesy |
Above
and beyond satisfactory, showed leadership qualities |
|
|
Student
work sheet 40% |
Answered
most questions adequately |
Answered
all questions adequately |
Answered
all questions adequately, Showed advanced understanding |
|
|
PPA
cost and benefit section 10% |
Used
cost and benefit introduction to fill
out worksheet 7-8 |
Showed
understanding of concept of cost & benefits of public policy, through
worksheet 7-8 |
Showed
mastery of concept of cost &
benefits of public policy, through worksheet 7-8 |
|
|
Participated
in a class debate with your team 20% |
Showed
up prepared and assisted in team debate |
Showed
up well prepared and assisted in team debate, played leadership role |
Above
and beyond well prepared, team leader, great presenter |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Conclusion
Upon completion of this assignment we all should have increased our understanding of what a public policy is and how a given policy may personally affect us. The way we view contemporary news topics such as stem cell research has changed. We have researched the topic and understand the pros and cons. More over we can see the process of how and why certain laws are made. We can appreciate how personal this issue really is to many Americans. I sincerely hope we appreciate how powerful each of us is in helping to make and shape public policy. Simply voting for a local politician that is committed to passing a law that supports an issue you believe in is powerful. Taking political action in any manor such as supporting a local grassroots organization or joining a political party is powerful. In short we are all affected by many public policies, it’s a good idea to find out as much as possible about those policies which affect us, and get involved.
Teaching Standards addressed:
This web quest focuses on the following English Language
Arts Performance Standards:
E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.
E2a: Produce
a report of information.
E3a:
Participate in one-to-one conference with the teacher.
E3c: Prepare
and deliver a group presentation.
E4b: Analyze
and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.
This web quest focuses on the following Science
Standards:
S4a: order
and organizing; form and function; change and constancy; cause and effect
S4b: the
relationship between science and technology
S4c:
personal and environmental safety
S4e: Demonstrates an understanding of the impact of
science.
S5a: frames
questions to distinguish cause and effect
S5b: uses
S1-S4 to explain a variety of observations and phenomena
S5c: Uses evidence from reliable sources to develop
descriptions, explanations, and models; and makes appropriate adjustments and
improvements.
S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and
critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.
S5e:
identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; evaluates the
accuracy of design, and outcomes of investigation
S5f: Works
individually and in teams to collect and share information and ideas.
S6d:
acquires information from multiple sources
S6e:
recognizes and limits sources of bias in data
S7a:
represents data and results in multiple ways
S7b: Argues from evidence.
S7d: Explains a scientific concept or procedure to
other students.
S7e: Communications in a form suited to the purpose
and the audience.