Bioethics & Neuroscience: A Primer for High School Teachers
Center for Bioethics, Philadelphia PA
October 10, 2009
October 10, 2009
Sponsorship & Support
This workshop is offered by The University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics with the generous support of The Dana Foundation.
Schedule
This workshop is offered by The University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics with the generous support of The Dana Foundation.
Schedule
| 8.30am | Breakfast, Greetings, & Introductions |
| 9.00am |
Art Caplan: "How Do You Know Someone is Dead?" In the 1960s, the concept of brain death emerged from a medical and ethical consensus about the neurologic state of patients who had irreversibly lost brain activity. The advent of the neurologic criteria of death points to the way in which we- as a society- determine the boundaries of life and death. In this session, Professor Caplan will discuss the clinical innovations that led to the development of the concept of brain death and will address recent ethical controversies. |
| 10.45am | Break |
| 11.00am | Susan Schneider: "Science Fiction & Philosophy: Cases in Neuroethics" In this session, Professor Schneider will review material from her new book and discuss ways in which science fiction can be used to teach high school students about complex bioethical issues. Copies of Science Fiction & Philosophy will be provided to participants. |
| 12.30pm | Catered Lunch |
| 1.15pm | Dominic Sisti & Igor Jasinski: "Critical Thinking and Bioethics: The Case of Terri Schiavo" The tragic case of Terri Schiavo highlighted just how little politicians, the media, the general public, and even some physicians knew about the clinical facts of persistent vegetative state. This clinical confusion led to confused ethical positions. In this session the speakers will review some of the key facts around the Schiavo case, and highlight the way ethical arguments had been deployed on both sides. They will introduce and provide participants with a new set of lessons plans that are focused on developing students' critical thinking skills. |
| 3.00pm - 4.00pm | Open Discussion: How Does Teaching Bioethics Meet State Science Standards? |
Arthur Caplan, Ph.D. is the Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics, Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and the Director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to coming to Penn in 1994, Art taught at the University of Minnesota, the University of Pittsburgh, and Columbia University. He was the Associate Director of the Hastings Center from 1984-1987. Art is the author or editor of twenty-five books and over 500 papers in refereed journals of medicine, science, philosophy, bioethics and health policy.
Igor Jasinski received an M.A. in Philosophy from Stony Brook University. For the last fourteen years, he has been teaching Philosophy, German and Latin in both private and public high schools in New Jersey and New York. Having seen first hand how students are eager to embrace philosophical ideas and the joy of watching them become more independent and critical thinkers in the process inspired Igor to use the materials he developed for his classes as the basis for a philosophy textbook specifically designed for high school students. He is currently working on the completion of this project. Beginning in the fall of 2009, Igor will pursue an Ed.D. in pedagogy with a specialization in philosophy for children at Montclair State University. He will also be teaching at The Pingry School, an independent private high school in Martinsville, New Jersey.
Allison Rosenbloom is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently studying Health and Societies with a concentration in Bioethics and History.
Susan Schneider is a philosopher whose background includes philosophy of mind, metaphysics and cognitive science. Her current work involves the computational theory of mind and the mind-body problem. She approaches issues in neuroethics, particularly enhancement and transhumanism, from the vantage point of philosophy of mind and metaphysics. She received her Ph.D. in philosophy from Rutgers.
Dominic Sisti, MBE is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Philosophy at Michigan State and a research associate at the Center for Bioethics. His interests include philosophy of medicine & psychiatry, clinical ethics, & research ethics. Dom received his master's degree from Penn (Bioethics, 2000) and his bachelor's degree from Villanova (Biology, 1996). (sistid@mail.med.upenn.edu)
Participants
Terry Biondo: I teach Honors Biology as well as oceanography and environmental science to grades 10 - 12 at Wissahickon High School in Ambler, PA. Combining current research and public impact is something that I try to incorporate into my classroom.
Karl Haigler: Executive Director, Bioethics-in-Action; Interests: Ethical issues related to biotechnology, specifically how lay audiences (including students and faculty) can better understand the scientific issues involved and bring to bear philosophical analysis for discussion and debate. Currently working with school in Annapolis, MD, with M/S and U/S faculty on interdisciplinary (science and humanities) approaches to genetically modified organisms, genetically engineered food, and environmental connections to bioethics.
Russel Gregory: I have taught in the Phila. system for 11 years. I practiced as a Chiropractor for 15 years prior to my teaching career. I am an "organic" teacher because I integrate varied topics when I cover the course curriculum.
Isaac Jones: I am currently in a Master's degree program in Genetic Counseling at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Previously, I taught high school in New York City and San Diego for eight years and I have a particular interest in the teaching of bioethics to young students.
Bruce Karpe: I teach at Swenson Arts & Technology High School, a career-technical high school within the School District of Philadelphia. We are located in the northeastern portion of the city. I teach chemistry (11th grade) and forensic science (12th grade). I am particularly interested in forensic science applications of DNA technology.
Katherine Maley: Notre Dame High School Religion Teacher 3 years. Bioethics is a third of our Religion Four Curriculum; Teach mostly Seniors with one Junior and Freshman Class and a Women of Faith Course.
Anne McDonough: Teaches Honors Biology (10th grade) and AP Biology at Wissahickon HS in Ambler Pa. She has been teaching science for 28 years and has lab experience through the Rockford Il School of Medicince, USGS and the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Colorado.
Rae Nelson has more than twenty years of experience in workforce and education public policy, human resources consulting, and communications. She has held leadership positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors including service at The White House and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For the last decade, Rae has partnered with organizations on human resources and communications strategies that are tied to business objectives and bottom-line results.
Judy Salcewicz: I teach a bioethics course to 12th grade students at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, NJ (although many of our students live in Pennsylvania). I am always interested in adding cutting edge information to class projects and discussions. In addition to the bioethics course, I direct the Community Service-learning program and work with my seniors to organize and facilitate community service projects. Last year our students completed over 53,000 hours of service to the community.
Paul Savage: I am a social studies teacher at the Academy for Information Technology in Scotch Plains, N.J., a high-tech public high tech public magnet high school. I teach US History and Global Ethics. In Global Ethics, we discover the tenets of ethics standards and explore global topics such as genocide, poverty, discrimination, international disputes, bioethics and genetic engineering among other topics. This seminar offers me an opportunity to advance my capabilities in teaching bioethics. I attended Rutgers University from 1976 to 1980. My BA is in art from Thomas Edison State College. I received my MA in education from Seton Hall University, specializing in integrating technology into the classroom. Prior to teaching, I served as director of photography at The Trenton Times. I was a journalist for 26 years.
Linda Schaffer: I am a health related technology teacher at Swenson Arts and Technology H.S. in the Philadelphia School District. I am also a register nurse with a BSN.
Thinh Thach: My name is Thinh Thach and I am the 7th and 8th grade math and science teacher at Eliza B. Kirkbride Elementary School. I've been teaching in the School District of Philadelphia for almost three years now. I am certified in K-6 elementary education, N-12 special education, and middle year mathematics.
Jessie Willing: I am currently teaching Biology and Honors Biology at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. I was thrilled to participate in the last Summer workshop and am interested in learning as much as I can about bioethics. I am hoping to develop a bioethics elective for the spring of 2010.
Carol Zepatos: Bergen County Academies - 9-12 Public Magnet H.S. in Bergen County (Hackensack). Accepts students by application from the 50 + towns in Bergen County. At BCA since 1994. Currently teaching Grade 10 Honors Biology. Grade 10 Rotating Science Lab SimMan Project. Bioethics (elective). Participated in Bioethics Workshop/Hoffman LaRoche summer 2008. Interested in Materials/ Techniques for teaching bioethics.
Terry Biondo: I teach Honors Biology as well as oceanography and environmental science to grades 10 - 12 at Wissahickon High School in Ambler, PA. Combining current research and public impact is something that I try to incorporate into my classroom.
Karl Haigler: Executive Director, Bioethics-in-Action; Interests: Ethical issues related to biotechnology, specifically how lay audiences (including students and faculty) can better understand the scientific issues involved and bring to bear philosophical analysis for discussion and debate. Currently working with school in Annapolis, MD, with M/S and U/S faculty on interdisciplinary (science and humanities) approaches to genetically modified organisms, genetically engineered food, and environmental connections to bioethics.
Russel Gregory: I have taught in the Phila. system for 11 years. I practiced as a Chiropractor for 15 years prior to my teaching career. I am an "organic" teacher because I integrate varied topics when I cover the course curriculum.
Isaac Jones: I am currently in a Master's degree program in Genetic Counseling at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Previously, I taught high school in New York City and San Diego for eight years and I have a particular interest in the teaching of bioethics to young students.
Bruce Karpe: I teach at Swenson Arts & Technology High School, a career-technical high school within the School District of Philadelphia. We are located in the northeastern portion of the city. I teach chemistry (11th grade) and forensic science (12th grade). I am particularly interested in forensic science applications of DNA technology.
Katherine Maley: Notre Dame High School Religion Teacher 3 years. Bioethics is a third of our Religion Four Curriculum; Teach mostly Seniors with one Junior and Freshman Class and a Women of Faith Course.
Anne McDonough: Teaches Honors Biology (10th grade) and AP Biology at Wissahickon HS in Ambler Pa. She has been teaching science for 28 years and has lab experience through the Rockford Il School of Medicince, USGS and the Rocky Mountain Biological Lab in Colorado.
Rae Nelson has more than twenty years of experience in workforce and education public policy, human resources consulting, and communications. She has held leadership positions in the public, private, and non-profit sectors including service at The White House and U.S. Chamber of Commerce. For the last decade, Rae has partnered with organizations on human resources and communications strategies that are tied to business objectives and bottom-line results.
Judy Salcewicz: I teach a bioethics course to 12th grade students at Notre Dame High School in Lawrence, NJ (although many of our students live in Pennsylvania). I am always interested in adding cutting edge information to class projects and discussions. In addition to the bioethics course, I direct the Community Service-learning program and work with my seniors to organize and facilitate community service projects. Last year our students completed over 53,000 hours of service to the community.
Paul Savage: I am a social studies teacher at the Academy for Information Technology in Scotch Plains, N.J., a high-tech public high tech public magnet high school. I teach US History and Global Ethics. In Global Ethics, we discover the tenets of ethics standards and explore global topics such as genocide, poverty, discrimination, international disputes, bioethics and genetic engineering among other topics. This seminar offers me an opportunity to advance my capabilities in teaching bioethics. I attended Rutgers University from 1976 to 1980. My BA is in art from Thomas Edison State College. I received my MA in education from Seton Hall University, specializing in integrating technology into the classroom. Prior to teaching, I served as director of photography at The Trenton Times. I was a journalist for 26 years.
Linda Schaffer: I am a health related technology teacher at Swenson Arts and Technology H.S. in the Philadelphia School District. I am also a register nurse with a BSN.
Thinh Thach: My name is Thinh Thach and I am the 7th and 8th grade math and science teacher at Eliza B. Kirkbride Elementary School. I've been teaching in the School District of Philadelphia for almost three years now. I am certified in K-6 elementary education, N-12 special education, and middle year mathematics.
Jessie Willing: I am currently teaching Biology and Honors Biology at the Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. I was thrilled to participate in the last Summer workshop and am interested in learning as much as I can about bioethics. I am hoping to develop a bioethics elective for the spring of 2010.
Carol Zepatos: Bergen County Academies - 9-12 Public Magnet H.S. in Bergen County (Hackensack). Accepts students by application from the 50 + towns in Bergen County. At BCA since 1994. Currently teaching Grade 10 Honors Biology. Grade 10 Rotating Science Lab SimMan Project. Bioethics (elective). Participated in Bioethics Workshop/Hoffman LaRoche summer 2008. Interested in Materials/ Techniques for teaching bioethics.
