Lesson 1: Defining Socio-Scientific Issues & Biological Foundations
Demonstrating understanding of biological responses and human implications in a socio-scientific issue.
🎯 Ngā Whāinga Akoranga | Learning Intentions
The criteria for a socio-scientific issue (SSI): biological complexity, conflicting stakeholder values, societal impact, and lack of a purely technical consensus solution (e.g. CRISPR gene editing, 1080 pest control, genetic screening).
Formulate a focused socio-scientific inquiry question, distinguish biological facts from ethical values, and identify key stakeholder groups.
🎥 Media Anchor & Pedagogical Scaffold
Biological Innovation & Socio-Scientific Impact
Video Clip: Biotechnology innovation and socio-scientific issue analysis (Runtime: 3m 8s).
🧠 1. Before Viewing (Activate & Predict)
Why can scientific data alone never answer the question of whether a biotechnology should be legally permitted or funded?
👁️ 2. After the Clip (Work With a Job)
- Kōrero: Identify the core biological mechanism driving the technological application.
- Kōrero: Examine the economic, environmental, and ethical trade-offs presented by stakeholders.
- Kōrero: Distinguish empirical biological evidence from value-based societal priorities.
🗣️ 3. After Viewing & Kaiako Move (Process & Apply)
Kaiako Move: Use a continuum line across the classroom for students to position their initial stance on gene editing vs pest eradication.
Immediate Task: Complete Section 1 of your Level 3 Biology (Internal) Portfolio: Socio-Scientific Issue Selection & Stakeholder Mapping.
⚡ Whakaoho | Do Now: Socio-Scientific Concept Recall (10 mins)
Some questions have no scientific answer. "Does 1080 kill possums?" has one — measurable, settled. "Should we use 1080?" does not, and no amount of extra data will produce one.
Two minutes: say what the second question needs that the first does not. Then test three more questions of your own and sort them into answerable-by-evidence and not. The ones in the second pile are socio-scientific issues.
📖 Activity 1: Biological Evidence & Ethical Analysis (25 mins)
Apply the criteria (15 min). Given six issues, test each against all four SSI criteria: biological complexity, conflicting values, societal impact, no purely technical solution. An issue must meet all four. Reject the ones that do not and say which criterion failed.
Choose yours (10 min). Select the issue you will carry through this unit. Write one sentence stating the biology at its core and one stating the disagreement that biology cannot settle. If you cannot write the second sentence, choose a different issue.
📝 Activity 2: Level 3 Biology (Internal) Report Drafting & Merit/Excellence Scaffolding (20 mins)
Report — Section 1. Submit: (1) six issues tested against all four criteria with verdicts; (2) your chosen issue with its biological core and its irreducible disagreement stated separately; (3) a paragraph on why more data would not resolve it.
🏫 Kaiako Planning & Pedagogy Notes
NCEA Level 3 Alignment: Direct preparation for NCEA Level 3 Biology — Internal (Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue). Emphasise balanced consideration of alternative perspectives and justified conclusions for Merit/Excellence grades.