Position Preparation Activity Examples
CancerQuest: A Search for AnswersGrades: 8-12
CancerQuest is a project supported by the John Hopkins Medical School that leads students through a step-by-step information gathering process on the background of cancer and the possible carcinogenic nature of the herbicide atrazine. The ultimate goal of the project is for pairs of students to gather data on the question “Is the herbicide atrazine a chemical carcinogen in the environment?” and to determine the validity of the data they collect. The culminating activity of the project is a written position paper presenting the students’ view on the issue. A possible extension project is the CancerQuest Video Conference which can be found at http://www.fastol.com/~renkwitz/cancer_quest_video_confere.htm or via a link on the CancerQuest page. The video conference allows students to join in a consortium with other students around the world who have completed the same CancerQuest project.
Hello Dolly: A WebQuest
Grades: 9-12
Students take the roles of politicians, scientists, industry executives, and ethicists to find answers to the question: What government policy should be established to regulate cloning? The site contains a wealth of resources, a discussion board, and note-taking templates for students.
Searching for China
Grades: 9-12
Students study China from business, cultural, religious, human rights, environmental, and political perspectives to answer the question: What actions should the U.S. take in its policy towards China? The technologically sophisticated (and easy to use) dossiers generate reports based on student input.
©2005-2009 Judith B. Harris, Ph.D.
