LESSON 5: Science KS4
RESOURCES
NATIONAL CURRICULUM LINKS
OBJECTIVES
AIM
Research task
To conduct a research exercise. To enable students to gain an understanding of what role research plays in the development of science. To enable students to gain insight and knowledge of the issues surrounding The Electronic Patient Record and its practical application. How Science Works - 4b: consider how and why decisions about science and technology are made, including those that raise ethical issues, and about the social, economic and environmental effects of such decisions AQA - 10.8: Societal aspects of scientific evidence The uses of science and technology developments can raise ethical, social, economic and environmental issues. - 10.9: Limitations of scientific evidence Edexcel - Topic 4: Use, misuse and abuse Twenty First Century - Module B2: Keeping Healthy - Making decisions about science and technology (Idea about Science). Personal and social decisions require an understanding of the science involved but also knowledge and values beyond science. In this module, students consider particular ethical issues arising in modern medicine, for example the right of individual choice versus social policy, illustrated through vaccination policy. AO1 Knowledge and understanding - Demonstrate understanding of the power and limitations of scientific ideas and factors affecting how these ideas develop - Draw on existing knowledge to show understanding of the benefits and drawbacks of applications of science Article 4: Sample questionnaire
ACTIVITY
INTRO
Give students a copy of Article 4: Sample questionnaire and ask them to fill it in for themselves. Now ask them to identify the 'closed' and 'open' questions. NB: The answer to 'Question 6: In which year was the first text message sent?' is all of them! Different sources suggest different dates.
DISCUSS
Discuss the following terms: Quantitative data: countable numbers. Can be produced by multiple choice questions, questions that require a number for an answer or yes/no type questions. Quantities. Qualitative data: descriptive answers. Can be observed but not measured. Qualities.
PLAN
In groups of 4 ask students to think about the key issues of the play. Triggered by the issues raised by Breathing Country ask them to design a questionnaire. The questionnaire should aim to gauge public knowledge and opinion about Electronic Patient Records (EPR). Consider the following: • • • • • •
Use a combination of open and closed questions Aim to find out what the public knows about EPR What the public concerns are How people feel about the ethical issues raised Remember that some people will be unaware of EPR so your questions will need to be phrased in a way that can be understood Remember that it may be useful when you come to analyse your data to collect personal data such as age and sex
RESEARCH Working in the same groups of four conduct a survey. This could be within the school building or outside in the local area. COLLATE
Ask students to collate the data in a meaningful way. Quantitative data could be summarised in charts and tables for example. Ask them to think about what the data shows and how they will communicate their findings to an audience.
PRESENT
Ask your students to present their research findings. They can use PowerPoint, spreadsheets, charts, tables etc. They should consider what their main findings are and summarise these in a concise and clear manner.