Course culminating activity: How do we create a better future?

TVO ILC
1
Course culminating activity: How do we create a
better future?
Overall Learning Goals
We are learning to
• critically evaluate the impact of biological research on society
• consider an ethical viewpoint on research in various topics in biology
• understand the challenges of properly funding biological research
• express my scientific opinions using supporting evidence
Overall Success Criteria
I am able to
• decide where I believe the scientific community should focus their efforts and
express why
• express my views on the ethics of biological research with a sound, scientific
rationale
• consider a global viewpoint and think beyond my personal boundaries
• convey my point of view in a clear and concise fashion
Introducing the culminating task
Throughout this course we have investigated five (5) units of study:
• Cellular biology
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Anatomy of mammals
• Plant structure and function
In the culminating task, you will be taking on the role of a healthcare professional (examples
include nurse, paramedic, vet technician, technologist) who sits on a committee that makes
recommendations to the officials responsible for distributing the budget of a research grant
from the National Research Council of Canada. Your role is talk about current issues with
members of your community and other healthcare professionals in your workplace so that
Copyright © 2018 The Ontario Educational Communications Authority. All rights reserved.
SBI3C
Course culminating activity: How do we create a better future?
TVO ILC
2
you can provide their input and voice to the committee. You will make recommendations as
to what percentage of the budget each of the five units of study should receive based on
your ranking of importance from a personal, societal, and ethical standpoint.
Your task
Background: It is a fact that scientific research and innovation requires funding. It is also
a fact that money is in limited supply. So how is it decided which projects get supported
with funding, and which don’t? Groups of scientists will apply for funding from both private
institutions such as universities, and public institutions such as the Government of Canada.
In this task, you will be taking on the role of a person that provides suggestions to the group
that makes the decision about what areas of research should receive funding.
Scenario: Imagine each unit of study was an overview delivered to you and aimed at
convincing you to support research in that area of study. Having completed the course, you
must now decide which area of study you feel is most important. There are many factors you
should consider when making your decision:
• Personal feelings – What personal experiences and biases might you bring into the
decision? It is important to consider how your personal point of view might influence your
decision in both positive and negative ways. You must not only consider just your feelings,
but also consider the evidence that you have learned throughout the course and evidence
you will gather while completing this project.
• Benefit to society – While all the fields of study have clear merit, you must consider
which will have the greatest impact on society as a whole. Is a massive benefit to a small
group of people of equal value to a small benefit to a large group of people? You must
consider this.
• Ethical considerations – All scientific research must be considered from an
ethical point of view. Consider whether advances in research create the potential for harm,
discrimination, or the reduction in the quality of life for other living things. Also, scientific
developments can create questions that society has never had to deal with before, which
can create an ethical dilemma. For example, if human clones are created, do they have
equal rights to humans that are not clones?
• Future benefits – It can be difficult to consider the future when living in the present,
but you must consider what scientific advances will be best not just in your lifetime, but
for generations far into the future. This could be from the standpoint of improvements in
the quality of life far into the future, or the danger of neglecting the present issues and the
consequences of this on the future.
Copyright © 2018 The Ontario Educational Communications Authority. All rights reserved.
SBI3C
Course culminating activity: How do we create a better future?
TVO ILC
3
Product:
Part 1: Your reasoning and research
You will present the results of your inquiry in the form of a research table for each unit.
While a suggested table is provided for you, feel free to modify it as you see fit to meet
the needs of presenting your evidence. Note: you will complete the research table for
each unit throughout the course (at the end of each unit). This will help you to work on
this final project gradually throughout the whole course, obtaining guidance and support
along the way to make sure you are doing your best work.
Part 2: The final product
You will present your final decision. You can choose to share this information using the
method of your choice – one with which you are most comfortable. More information
below.
Audience: In this scenario, your suggestions would be provided to other people on the
committee, who possibly come from a non-scientific background. It is critical that your
rationale be put into words that can be easily understood and interpreted by someone
who has not studied this course. You must define any scientific concepts you use and put
the ideas studied in this course, and through your research, into your own words. If you
understand what you are saying, it’s likely that others will too.
Evidence: You must provide a funding percentage for each unit that ranges from 0% to
100% with the total from all five units adding up to 100%. Each funding percentage must
be accompanied by a rationale that includes a specific example from this course, and at
least one other source researched from the Internet, your local library, or another research
source.
Specific Success Criteria
In order for your culminating project to be successful, it should meet all of the following
criteria:
̆ A completed summary table for each unit of study.
̆ A funding value for each unit of study.
̆ A clear rationale explaining how you came to that funding value that addresses the
considerations discussed above.
̆ One or more specific examples from the course and research that support(s) your
funding value.
̆ Your summary is effectively communicated in terms of spelling and grammar.
Copyright © 2018 The Ontario Educational Communications Authority. All rights reserved.
SBI3C
Course culminating activity: How do we create a better future?
TVO ILC
4
̆ Your summary is effectively communicated in terms of depth and clarity.
̆ Your summary, written in your own words, is easy to understand for non-scientific
readers.
̆ Your research sources are reported in proper APA format.
Part 1: Research tables
These will be completed throughout the course.
Research table template: You will create one for each unit of study at the end of each unit.
Area of study: Percentage of funding:
Considerations (present in point form, minimum two
points/facts for each):
Personal considerations:
Societal considerations:
Ethical considerations:
Future considerations:
Rationale (present in paragraph form, include evidence,
approximately 200 words):
APA reference for researched evidence:
Part 2: Final presentation
Here is where you put all your research and work into a final presentation. You will present
your final decision. You can choose to share this information in a variety of formats. Choose
a method with which you are comfortable. Consider the following ideas:
• Design an infographic (include pictures, statistics, quotations, etc.)
Copyright © 2018 The Ontario Educational Communications Authority. All rights reserved.
SBI3C
Course culminating activity: How do we create a better future?
TVO ILC
5
• Create a video (less than five minutes in length)
• Record an audio file (less than five minutes in length; similar to a podcast or
radio show)
• Write a two-page report
Your presentation should summarize the research from each research table you completed
and include your final decision on which area will get your assigned percentage of funding.
Evaluation: You will be evaluated according to the rubric below. It is always a good strategy
to review the rubric before you begin your task and after each piece of work you do. This
will help you to meet the criteria for success. Review this Rubric Deconstruction for help
understanding rubrics or levels.