1. Each Student will complete the "pre-survey" , "getting started worksheets" and website exploration. It is important to know basic information about stem cells before you start this project. In addition, your teacher will provide you with additional information to help you understand the stem cell basics (notes, videos, etc).
2. You will be placed into a "role playing group" .These characters are found on this website. A teacher may also wish to have students choose their own "role playing group". This viewpoint may not be that of your own. Understanding the controversy surrounding this issue, as well as various viewpoints, will help your understanding of the entire topic of stem cells.
3. Your "role playing group" will go to the link for your character role and use the suggested resources in order to answer the questions specific to the viewpoint of the charater. Each person in the group will answer all of the questions for your character. You will then collaborate with your group and formulate the best answers for these questions. The suggested resources are meant to be a starting point, you may need to delve more deeply into books, periodical articles, and the internet. The questions will help you understand and investigate the science of stem cells, understand the perspective of your character, and prepare your commercial.
3. Your group is a production company. You have been hired by your "role playing group" to create a commercial that expresses the passions and concerns of your character's point of view. Everyone in your group must speak/be involved and have a substantial component to the making of the commercial. Think about how you will divide up the information to make your commercial!...You are to represent this roles perspective!( Remember they are clients of yours)...How would a commercial address this? Your group may choose the format of the commercial: Live, video, etc. Remember, your commercial must address the "big question".....
4. After each commercial has been viewed, the entire class will reflect on the presentations/material. Students will be able to reflect on the knowledge they gain from the project as well as how they feel about the ethical concerns surrounding stem cells. Remember, we are not deciding if stem cell research is "right" or "wrong" rather we are making sure we understand all views on this ethical issue.
5. Each student will then get a chance to cast their vote about the Big Question " Should Federal Funds be used for stem cell research? What restrictions, if any, should there be?"