WEBQUEST

Learn and Live Without ASTHMA Through Knowledge

L. Scott

Christopher Columbus H.S.

Introduction:

You are students in the classroom of The Magic Schoolbus investigating the disease of Asthma. Ms. Frizzle has been selected to be a part of a special commission or task force appointed by the New York State Governor's office assigned to find ways of preventing the further proliferation of Asthma. The report must be in the form of a public policy analysis-PPA report which clearly determines how local and national communities can minimize or prevent deaths from Asthma, and decrease school absenteeism through the advantages of the knowledge they acquire.

Task:

Ms. Frizzle's The Magic Schoolbus classroom is well known, and quite thorough, for adhering to the 'Scientific Method'. At the team meeting it was decided to find out all you could about Asthma. The nutritional factors, reasons for inflammation of the respiratory organs, and factors that trigger the auto immune system reaction will be considered; as well as how these affect the body. Next your team will research the incidence of the disease in the Bronx. Using the knowledge gained your team will be better able to propose a public policy law to prevent higher proliferation of the disease. You will produce a poster or other graphic about the problem and give a brief oral report.

Process:

All three teams of Ms. Frizzle's The Magic Schoolbus classroom MUST stay in contact with the PPA at their website http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/.

The group will be divided into three different teams, each will study a specific cause of Asthma.

All three teams: Nutrition, Inflammation and the Immune System of the body must research their specific assignment for the necessary information to develop a public policy which will be reported to the Governor of New York State to recommend steps toward PREVENTING the incidence of deaths from ASTHMA and decreasing school absenteeism in New York's public schools.

After researching your part of the team task, use the questions from the worksheets to guide you in writing an essay on your research. Now you are ready to complete the worksheets.

Return to the welcome page above, and this time double click on I have used the PPA before.

This is a useful guide in completing the worksheets correctly. The six essays and worksheets you will be responsible for are:

1. What is the social problem?

2. Gathering evidence for this problem.

3. Identifying causes for the problem

4. Evaluating the existing public policy.*

*(Follow the instruction sheet)

5. Developing public policy solutions.

6. Selecting the best public policy solution.

Your Team will prepare a Public Policy Analysis(PPA) report on Living without Asthma through learning how to Prevent it from future proliferation by :

1. Select a team to be on and familiarize your self with the facts that relevant for its application with Asthma.

2. Prepare a written report that includes the above information on Asthma prevention and your assessment of how school absenteeism can be reduced by adoption of your policy. You must use The Principles of The Scientific Method:

www.google.com/search?

http://www.arcus.org/ArcticAlive/downloads/Background_Other.doc

3. Take a virtual tour through the human body and its systems of the lungs and the body’s connective tissues.

4. Develop or create a poster or other graphic organizer – Concept Map that would be useful to a public agency that is trying to educate people on how to prevent the disease and decrease school absenteeism.

5. Present your work (report back to the community) give an Oral Presentation and effectively explain and defend your suggested policy. All members of the group must participate for each group member to receive full credit.

Review the steps of the Public Policy Analyst (PPA). You need to follow these steps and complete all six worksheets in order to develop a rational and potentially effective policy. These steps and worksheets may be viewed at: http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPS/select.html

Resources:

The following links provide information on specific research topics that will be useful in helping to complete this task. Also you may find other helpful links within these sites for more information.

http://www.asthmafreeforlife.com

http://www.nutrilite.com/English/public/whynutrilite/organicbasedproducts/doc1028f.asp

http://www.uhaweb.hartford.edu/BUGL/immune.htm

http://edcenter.med.cornell.edu/CUMC_PATHNOTES/Immunopathology/Immuno_02.html

http://healthandenergy.com/asthma_increasing.htm

http://www.rachel.org/bulletin/index.cfm?issue_ID=754

http://heartandenergy.com/inflammation_is_a_secret_killer.htm

http://www.indoorpurifiers.com/nutritn.htm

EVALUATION:

Each team will receive a grade which applies to each member of the team. Each team will be graded on their written report: team worksheets, oral presentation report back to the community and poster or graphic organizer/concept mapping poster chart.

Guidelines for final essay

- Your Three page typed report must include the six step public policy analyst format.

- Double space using font number 12

- Be certain to cite references

- State why you believe the public policy you proposed is the best.

- Include statistics, a chart or graph and a picture for your team poster.

Guidelines for your teams’ worksheets

- Discuss and compare your essay with team members.

- Decide upon the best answer for the worksheet.

RUBRIC:

Incomplete Satisfactory Outstanding

(55) (75) (95)

Essay	Incomplete-lacks important information	Answers all questions fully	Complete in all Respects. Shows An excellent understanding of the topic
Worksheets	Lacks necessary data	Supports proposed policy	Excellent presentation exhibiting your own creation and supporting policy

New York State STANDARDS:

This Web Quest meets the following New York State Science and English Standards.

Science Standards:

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.

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

S7a Argues from evidence

S7e Communicates in a form suited to the purpose and the audience.

S8a Demonstrates scientific competence by completing secondary research.

English Language Assessment Standards:

E1c Read and comprehend informational materials.

E2a Produce a report of information.

E2e Produce a persuasive essay.

E4a Independently and habitually demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language

in written and oral work.

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

CONCLUSION:

Asthma is a social problem in the Bronx, N.Y. community which has manifested itself into higher public school absenteeism and into an increase in deaths from the disease. Students gain information and develop potentially effective policies to confront and /or prevent the on set of ‘at birth’ Asthma and its acute and chronic syndromes. In so doing students understand the interactions between science, research, debate and policy development which are essential in formulating rational, national strategies to deal with contemporary and future threats to the public welfare.

This WEBQUEST document is submitted by: Linda Le Gare-Scott – TIPS

Christopher Columbus High School

November 1, 2004