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| Forming Opinions on the Issue of Stem Cell Research |
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In:
Research for Better Practice
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As part of the “Wuppertaler Wissenschaftscocktail” project (Wuppertal Science Cocktail project), triple innova, in cooperation with the Wuppertal Institute and the Kurs21 association, has developed one of five discussion modules on the issue of stem cells and cloning. A card game, which is designed for use by secondary school classes, gives playful access to this complex and controversial issue. The learning modules enable adolescents to actively engage in developments, scientific questions and socially relevant impacts of modern bio and genetic technological research and to participate in the debate about the opportunities and the risks of stem cell research.The card game that has been developed by triple innova contains theme, information and question cards, which introduce students to the issue of stem cells and therapeutic cloning. In this way, a playful approach is used to help the students to form their own opinions. The card game stimulates the students’ competence in assessing certain issues, a skill that is of growing importance within the German school curriculum. Students become acquainted with factual information and deal with differing positions concerning stem cell research in order to discuss those afterwards. As a result, every student becomes actively involved in this issue, which was demonstrated by practical testing in schools. The card game and additional materials for teachers can be downloaded from the project site of the BMBF funded project. The website also provides further information, as well as learning materials, for the rest of the modules such as Science Day, Theme Journey, Video Project and Virtual Maize Maze. |
