Pollution Related Respiratory Disorders

A Web Quest for 10^th grade Living Environment

Brian O'Connor

Morris High School

1110 Boston Rd.

Bronx, NY 10456

Pollution Related Respiratory Disorders in the Bronx

Introduction

There are many causes for respiratory disorders. These can include infections in the lungs and bronchioles, unformed structures, or external causes. One of the most prevalent respiratory disorders is asthma. You will work with a group to investigate how pollution acts as an agent to cause asthma and what can be done about this.

The main way to do this is for your group to transform itself into an environmental watchdog group. You and your group keep asking the question "What will the government do about the problem of pollution that results in respiratory disorders"? That is a big question so you and your group need to include several smaller questions.

This task occurs many times in the U.S. through the actions of Public Policy Analysis. TIPS or Teaching Interdisciplinary Problem Solving through Educational Technology helps students conduct a Public Policy Analysis. This involves defining specific problems, determining their causes, and developing solutions.

1) Define and describe the problem

2) Gather evidence for this problem

3) Identify causes for this problem

4) Describe and evaluate the existing policy for this problem

5) Develop alternate solutions for the problems associated with the existing policy

6) Select the best policy for this problem

This will be accomplished by using the following website and the accompanying links. http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/welcome.html

Task

You and your group will create a Power Point Presentation as well as a 3-4 page typed report on your findings and recommendations.

1) Discuss the signs and symptoms of asthma, how people are diagnosed, and the ways to deal with asthma.

2) Discuss some of the major causes of pollution and which kinds are likely to cause asthma, if any, and how this occurs.

3) Discuss the existing policies on how to deal with pollution causing respiratory problems, particularly in the Bronx, New York.

4) Work with your group on developing alternate policies.

5) Include a particular policy your group chooses as the best.

Process

Complete the above task. You will each have a different role and will use the 6-step public policy analysis work sheets (included at the bottom of this document) in order to guide your research. After you each complete your specific tasks including the identifying information, your group will begin writing a first draft of your report by combining your particular research.

The first draft will be collected, reviewed, and returned. Your group will continue working on the report by meeting together, using the internet resources given below, the library, and the teacher. At the same time, a power point slide presentation will be created that shows your group's problem, evidence, existing policies, alternate policies, and the policy your group chose as the best.

The process will culminate in your group submitting the completed report and presentation of your group’s power point slide presentation. You will work in groups of three to four. Each student will have a specific role:

1) Identifier: You are to identify the problem by researching different types of pollution. Use the following link to the worksheet. You can use the example provided to help guide you.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/Tips/select.html

2) Producer: You are to find evidence that there are types of pollution that cause asthma. Use the following link to the worksheet. You can use the example provided to help guide you.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/Tips/gather.html

3) Verifier: You are to find out about asthma. What causes it, who gets it, what are the symptoms, is it fatal, is it contagious, does pollution contribute to its intensity? Use the following link to the worksheet. You can use the example provided to help guide you.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/Tips/identify.html

4) Evaluator: You are to research the different policies the U.S. government has on pollutants, especially those contributing to asthma. Find statistics about asthma and other respiratory disorders in the Bronx. This is your opportunity to evaluate existing policies. Use the following link to the worksheet. You can use the example provided to help guide you.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/Tips/existing.html

5) Your group will work together to develop policies that you feel will help to solve the problem of pollution. Use the information each of you found. Use the following link to the worksheet. You can use the example provided to help guide you.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/Tips/solutions.html

6) Your group will then take the policies produced in number five and decide the best policy. This will be based on your group’s choice. Use the following link to the worksheet. You can use the example provided to help guide you.

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/Tips/bestsol.html

7) Upon completion of the six worksheets, your group will begin to write the 3-5 page report and prepare the power point presentation. The instructor will be available for questions.

8) Your group will continue putting each person’s information together, as well as preparing the power point presentation. Use the following Internet links to gather information necessary for the task.

Resources

Public Interest Research Groups are an alliance of state-based, citizen-funded organizations that advocate for the public interest:

http://www.nypirg.org/

http://www.pirg.org/

Environmental Protection Agency:

http://www.epa.gov/

Department of Health and Human Services:

http://aspe.hhs.gov/sp/asthma/

Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/asthma/speakit/phresponse.htm

http://www.prevent.org/whatwedo.htm

TIPS Website:

http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/tips.html

General Search Engines:

http://www.ask.com

http://www.about.com

http://www.yahoo.com

http://www.altavista.com

http://www.lycos.com

Evaluation

The evaluation of your projects will be done in two parts. The first part will be on your Power Point presentation. You and your group will present your project to the rest of the class and the class will submit rubrics based on your group’s presentation. The instructor will then combine these rubrics, along with your self-assessment, to determine a score. Then the rubric on your typed report will be averaged with your Power Point score to determine your final grade.

Guidelines for your Power Point Presentation

1) Your group consisting of four presenters.

2) All your slides will be original

3) Have six (6) slides showing your information and one (1) slide listing the credits (like a movie).

4) Your slides will be based on the 6-step PPA (Public Policy Analysis).

5) Your presentation will also include information showing the class how you came to your conclusions.

Guidelines for your 3-page typed report

1) Your three page typed report will be based on the 6 step public policy analyst format

2) Your report will be typed, double-spaced, and in 12-point font.

3) You will use the MLA style for citing references

4) Your report will focus on the causes of asthma, the problems those with asthma have, and how Public Policy offers solutions; if any.

5) You may include graphics in addition to the typed 3 page

6) A cover sheet with your name, group members’ names, class, teacher, date, and title of report will be included.

Rubric

	Inadequate ONE	Fair TWO	Good THREE	Excellent FOUR
Power Point Presentation	No Knowledge of Public Policy, Minimum Data Supporting Public Policy	Minimum Knowledge of Public Policy, Few Data Sources	Good Knowledge of Public Policy, Adequate Amount of Data Sources	Outstanding Knowledge of Public Policy, Tremendous Data Sources
Web Research	Links Not Supportive of Public Policy	Few Links Supporting Policy	Acceptable Amount of Links	Superior Amount of Links, all Supportive
3-Page Typed Report	Does Not Follow PPA Format, or English Standards	Minimal Analysis of PPA, and usage of Standards	Decent Analysis of PPA, and usage of Standards	Outstanding Analysis of PPA, and usage of Standards
Sources Used to Prove Chosen Policy	Only Web Sources used	Web Sources Barely Mixed with Others	Good Blend of Sources	Excellent Merger of Sources

Grades and Due Dates

1) The first 3-page draft of the report is due within three weeks.

2) The final 3-page typed reports are due within 6 weeks.

3) All Power Point Presentations will be completed one week after the submission of written report.

4) The entire project is worth two (2) test grades: 200 points.

5) The following percentages correspond to the rubric number:

1 = 60% and above

2 = 70% and above

3 = 80% and above

4 = 90% and above

Worksheet 1: What is the social problem?

Name: _________________ Date: ___________

1. The social problem is the high amount of people with asthma, who live in the Bronx, New York.

2. Identify all the players involved in this social problem

______________________________________________________

3. List at least three undesirable social conditions that result from this problem: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

4. Write a short description that summarizes the social problem and its effect on those who develop asthma.

______________________________________________________

Worksheet 2: Gathering evidence for this problem

Name: _________________ Date: ________________

1. List the evidence of this problem:

______________________________________________________

Worksheet 3: Identifying causes for this problem

Name: ________________________ Date: ___________

List several factors that contribute to the problem that has been identified. Support these factors with accurate evidence.

Worksheet 4: Evaluating the existing public policy

Name: _________________ Date: ___________

The Problem: ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

1. State one of the major existing policies that attempts to deal with this social problem:

2. What are the advantages of this policy? (effectiveness, public acceptance, enforcement):

______________________________________________________

3. What are the disadvantages of this policy? (effectiveness, public acceptance, enforcement):

______________________________________________________

4. Based on your evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages, should the current policy be totally replaced, or improved?

______________________________________________________

Worksheet 5: Developing public policy solutions

Name: __________________ Date: ___________

The problem: ______________________________________________________

1. Propose at least 3 original public policy alternatives. Make sure that all of your public policy alternatives are at the same historical, geopolitical, and social level as the problem. Each alternative must specify the actual social, religious, or governmental agency that will carry out the proposed action. Rate the proposal that you consider the most promising first.

2. Discuss why you prefer the first alternative over the other two alternatives.

Worksheet 6: Selecting the best public policy solution

Name: ________________________ Date: ___________

The problem: ______________________________________________________

A. List 3 public policy alternatives from worksheet 5. Create a short title that summarizes each policy.

1. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. __________________________________________________________________________________________________

B. Use the format in the example to complete the matrix below:

FEASIBILITY

EFFECTIVENESS	HIGH	MEDIUM	LOW
HIGH
MEDIUM
LOW

C. Explain the reasons for your decisions in the matrix.

This web quest focuses on the following Science Performance Standards:

S5 Scientific Thinking

S5d: Proposes, recognizes, analyzes, considers, and critiques alternative explanations; and distinguishes between fact and opinion.

S5e: Identifies problems; proposes and implements solutions; and evaluates the accuracy, design, and outcomes of investigations.

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

S6 Scientific Tools and Technologies

S6d: Acquires information from multiple sources.

S7 Scientific Communication

S7a: Represents data and results in multiple ways.

S7b: Argues from evidence.

This web quest also focuses on the following English Language Arts Performance Standards:

E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a: Produce a report of information.

E3c: Prepare and deliver an individual presentation.

E4b: Analyze and subsequently revise work to improve its clarity and effectiveness.