Throughout human history we have been under constant assault from pathogens. Prior to the development of the germ theory of disease, and antiseptic methods, people did not know why they got sick or how they could treat their illness. Epidemics over time have been responsible for the breakdown of society numerous times. An outbreak could turn away armies, bring about an end to wars, or even be responsible for a change in government or culture.
You will be taking on one of four roles to guide your investigation: an expert epidemiologist, a doctor in the field, a public health nurse, or a patient who has contracted the disease.
You will be taking on one of four roles to guide your investigation: an expert epidemiologist, a doctor in the field, a public health nurse, or a patient who has contracted the disease.
Process
1. Choose a Disease: Figure out what disease you want to investigate and check with me. In this webquest, you will only be focusing on communicable diseases, in other words diseases that can be transmitted from person to person.
The disease list below (in the downloadable documents section) would be a good place to start if you are not sure what are acceptable topics. This is a group project involving 3-4 students, no two groups should be researching the same disease.
I will help you decide on roles for each person in your group to take on, in addition to the roles above (doctor etc...) you will have a second role chosen from the following: project manager (no this role does not involve simply bossing people around!!), researchers, and graphic designer.
Once you've chosen a disease and have your roles in place, start by a brainstorm or KWL chart to lay down your foundation of prior knowledge. This will also help to provoke thought about any misconceptions you may have that bump up against established 'truths' that you encounter in the literature.
1. Choose a Disease: Figure out what disease you want to investigate and check with me. In this webquest, you will only be focusing on communicable diseases, in other words diseases that can be transmitted from person to person.
The disease list below (in the downloadable documents section) would be a good place to start if you are not sure what are acceptable topics. This is a group project involving 3-4 students, no two groups should be researching the same disease.
I will help you decide on roles for each person in your group to take on, in addition to the roles above (doctor etc...) you will have a second role chosen from the following: project manager (no this role does not involve simply bossing people around!!), researchers, and graphic designer.
Once you've chosen a disease and have your roles in place, start by a brainstorm or KWL chart to lay down your foundation of prior knowledge. This will also help to provoke thought about any misconceptions you may have that bump up against established 'truths' that you encounter in the literature.
2. Begin researching your disease: You are going to need to learn specific details about the disease. To guide your research put yourself into the mindset of the character role you've taken on. (Example: What would a public health nurse want to find out?) You may include more information if you like, but please ensure that you have the following questions answered in your project:
i) Where and when was this disease first discovered? ii) What symptoms are present with this disease? How is a diagnosis confirmed? iii) How does a person get this disease? iv) What is the prognosis for someone who has contracted this disease? What is the survival rate, how sick will they be etc? v) What is the treatment for this disease? vi) What preventative steps are possible to help avoid this disease? Vaccinations? vii) What does the future hold for this disease? Is it likely to be eradicated/cured? Can it be used in a beneficial way? viii) Any other interesting or strange facts that you've discovered? 3. Start construction on your presentation: determine, how you will be presenting your disease. As mentioned before, it could be a powerpoint, prezi, or webpage. Please include a reference page citing the resources that you use. Prezi can be found here, and it has excellent tutorials. I suggest you use weebly if you follow the website route, it can be found here.
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4. Include an Assessment:
This presentation is a way to share your findings with your peers. As such, you are required to observe other projects made by your classmates and then demonstrate that you have developed an understanding of these. Every project will come with some form of assessment. Your project will end with some kind of assessment to evaluate the understanding of your audience. Here are some suggested assessments: i) Students write a 5-10 question quiz that they answer after they've observed your project. b) Students write an essay describing what it is that they learned from your presentation. c) Student makes a concept map or some other form of graphic organizer about what they've learned. Don't forget, you'll be the one marking these assessments! So build them well! |
5. Observe other students presentations.
You will be engaging with other student's presentations and completing their assessments. It may help to take on the imaginary role of a patient who is suffering from the disease and is VERY motivated to learn as much as possible about it. Furthermore, you will EVALUATE the presentations that you've observed.
Evaluation of project: complete the form below (labeled: student observer evaluation of project) as you read your peer's projects.
6. Your final mark will take into consideration the assessments done by your peers, and will be completed using the marking rubric (downloadable below).
You will be engaging with other student's presentations and completing their assessments. It may help to take on the imaginary role of a patient who is suffering from the disease and is VERY motivated to learn as much as possible about it. Furthermore, you will EVALUATE the presentations that you've observed.
Evaluation of project: complete the form below (labeled: student observer evaluation of project) as you read your peer's projects.
6. Your final mark will take into consideration the assessments done by your peers, and will be completed using the marking rubric (downloadable below).
disease_list.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
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Here is a list of useful websites that you can use a resources:
Centre for disease control World Health Organization National Foundation for Infectious Diseases WebMD Medscape |
marking_rubric.docx | |
File Size: | 14 kb |
File Type: | docx |
final_assignment_rubric.docx | |
File Size: | 21 kb |
File Type: | docx |