Lesson at a Glance | He Tirohanga Whakamua
Ngā Whāinga Ako | Learning Intentions
Students will know
- What constitutes a Socio-Scientific Issue (SSI): an open-ended, complex problem based on cutting-edge biological science that has no single consensus answer and impacts society, culture, ethics, and policy.
- The 5 core dimensions of an NCEA Level 3 SSI: Biological Science, Bioethics, Mātauranga Māori / Tikanga, Economic/Legal Frameworks, and Stakeholder Perspectives.
- How to formulate a clear, researchable socio-scientific inquiry question for Level 3 Biology.
Students will demonstrate
- By selecting their target Level 3 Biology topic (e.g. "Should Aotearoa deploy CRISPR gene drives to achieve Pest Free 2050?").
- By completing Section 1 of their Level 3 Biology Socio-Scientific Report Portfolio.
Do Now | Tīmatanga Whakaaro (10 min)
Science vs Society Prompt:
"Science can tell us HOW to edit the DNA of a possum using CRISPR gene drives. Can science alone tell us SHOULD we release gene-drive possums into native Aotearoa forests?"
Unpack: No! Science provides empirical facts about mechanisms, genetics, and ecology, but deciding whether we SHOULD do it involves human values, bioethics, tikanga Māori, law, economic trade-offs, and societal risk tolerance. That is why it is a Socio-Scientific Issue.
The 5 Dimensions of a Level 3 Socio-Scientific Issue (15 min)
Genetics, molecular mechanisms, population biology, ecosystem dynamics, or medical physiology underlying the issue.
Bioethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice) and human rights impact.
Kaitiakitanga, taonga species, mauri, tapu, and Treaty of Waitangi (Wai 262) rights.
HSNO Act 1996, EPA regulations, industry economic costs, and government policy constraints.
📁 Socio-Scientific Report Portfolio — Section 1: Issue Selection & Context
Students open their Level 3 Biology Portfolio and complete Section 1:
Section 1 Requirements:
1. Target Issue Statement & Inquiry Question: Formulate a clear 1-sentence inquiry question (e.g. "To what extent should Aotearoa utilise CRISPR gene drive technology in invasive mammalian pest control?").
2. Biological Context Summary: Write a 1-paragraph overview detailing the specific biological technology involved and why it has created a societal debate.
3. Initial Dimension Map: Outline the key conflict points across biological, ethical, cultural, economic, and political domains.
Exit Verification | Ka Mutu Hoki (5 min)
Exit Check:
"My Section 1 clearly defines a focused socio-scientific inquiry question and outlines why biological facts alone cannot resolve the issue."
Teacher Planning & NCEA Alignment
NCEA Level 3 Biology Alignment (3 Credits Internal):
- Socio-Scientific Issues: Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue.
- Issue Definition: Identify the biological, social, ethical, cultural, and economic dimensions of a contemporary biological debate.
Vocabulary: Socio-scientific issue (SSI), bioethics, gene drive, CRISPR-Cas9, pest eradication, kaitiakitanga, HSNO Act, stakeholder.