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  • Transforming Science for Critical Thinkers

Curriculum

Transforming Science for Critical Thinkers
Topic: Critical Thinking - Science Literacy
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Overview:

Looking for a way to teach critical thinking skills in an engaging, systematic way? D’Scerner the Lifelong Learner lessons were developed to do just that. Students begin by reading a report from an actual scientific study published in a peer-reviewed journal. Teachers and graphic designers have transformed the original reports into age-appropriate materials. Students can read for themselves what the researchers reported about their study. There are lessons that guide students in finding sources of potential bias in the study; analyzing data tables and constructing graphs; and evaluating the results.
 
Included in the lesson is a media report on the same study. It is their job to decide if the media reported the results accurately. Another lesson guides students as they compare and contrast the articles. They will plan and create a Venn Diagram to help them decide.
 
Almost daily, we hear someone say “research says. . . “, from the D’Scerner lessons, students will learn to ask “Did the research really say that?” And better yet – they will have the skills to decide for themselves! 

 

Critically Thinking About a Nicotine Addiction Study

  • Articles: The Effects of Extended Pre-Quit Varenicline Treatment on Smoking Behavior and Short-Term Abstinence: A Randomized Clinical Trial
  • Articles: Transformed Journal Article: Nicotine – A Randomized Clinical Trial
  • Articles: Transformed Media Article: Quit Smoking, Kick Alcohol, and Forget Cocaine?
  • Background: Background Information: Student – Nicotine and Its Effect on the Body and Brain
  • Background: Background Information: Teacher – Nicotine and Its Effect on the Body and Brain
  • Background: Teacher: The Transformation Process
  • Lesson 1: Thinking About the Study: Activity 1A: Student – Processing Out – What I Need to Know
  • Lesson 1: Thinking About the Study: Activity 1A: Teacher Directions
  • Lesson 1: Thinking About the Study: Activity 1B: Student – Transforming Critical Thinking
  • Lesson 1: Thinking About the Study: Activity 1B: Teacher – Transforming Critical Thinking
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2A: Student Background – Clinical Trials and Study Designs
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2A: Student Processing Out - Clinical Trials and Study Designs
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2A: Teacher Background – Clinical Trials and Study Designs
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2A: Teacher Processing Out - Clinical Trials and Study Designs
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2B: Student – Designing an RCT
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2B: Teacher – Designing an RCT
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2C PSA Plan - Student
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2C PSA Plan - Teacher
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2C: Student – Creating a PSA: Anti-Smoking and Nicotine Addiction
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2C: Teacher – Creating a PSA: Anti-Smoking and Nicotine Addiction
  • Lesson 2: The Results: Activity 2D: Teacher – Socratic Seminar: Conversational Critical Thinking
  • Lesson 3: Analyzing the Results: Activity 3A: Student – Interpreting Bar Graphs
  • Lesson 3: Analyzing the Results: Activity 3A: Teacher – Interpreting Bar Graphs
  • Lesson 3: Analyzing the Results: Activity 3B: Student – Interpreting Pie Charts
  • Lesson 3: Analyzing the Results: Activity 3B: Teacher – Interpreting Pie Charts
  • Lesson 3: Analyzing the Results: Activity 3C: Student – Go to Your Corner!
  • Lesson 3: Analyzing the Results: Activity 3C: Teacher – Go to Your Corner!
  • Lesson 4: Comparing and Contrasting: Activity 4A: Student – Critically Thinking: Comparing Journal and Media Articles
  • Lesson 4: Comparing and Contrasting: Activity 4A: Teacher – Critically Thinking: Comparing Journal and Media Articles

Evaluating a Study of the Impact of Rapamycin on the Lifespan of Mice

  • Administrivia: Science TEKS (grades 6 – 8)
  • Administrivia: Unit Objectives
  • Article: Medical Research with Animals
  • Article: Original Rapamycin Journal Article Nature 2009
  • Article: Supported Transformation of Peer Reviewed Rapamycin Article
  • Article: Transformed Journal Article - Rapamycin
  • Article: Transformed Media Article - Rapamycin
  • Articles: Original Media Article NY times
  • Assessment: Post test answer sheet
  • Assessment: Pre test answer sheet
  • Assessment: Rapamycin Pre/Post edit
  • Assessment: Rapamycin Pre/Post edit answer key
  • Background: Lesson Background Rapamycin - Student
  • Background: Lesson Background Rapamycin - Teacher
  • Lesson 1: Rapamycin - Activity 1A - Student - Thinking About the Study
  • Lesson 1: Rapamycin - Activity 1A - Teacher Directions - Thinking About the Study
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2A - Student - Survival Curves
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2A - Teacher Directions - Survival Curves
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2B - Student - Virtual Survival Game
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2B - Teacher Directions - Virtual Survival Game
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2C - Student - Organisms in Research
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2C - Teacher Directions - Organisms in Research
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2D - Student
  • Lesson 2: Rapamycin - Activity 2D - Teacher Directions - Socratic Conversation
  • Lesson 3: Rapamycin - Activity 3A - Student - A Closer Look
  • Lesson 3: Rapamycin - Activity 3A - Teacher Directions - A Closer Look
  • Lesson 3: Rapamycin - Activity 3B - Teacher Directions - Survival Curve Graphing Lab
  • Lesson 3: Rapamycin - Activity 3C - Student - Lifespan vs Healthspan
  • Lesson 3: Rapamycin - Activity 3C - Teacher Directions - Lifespan vs Healthspan
  • Lesson 4: Rapamycin - Activity 4A - Student - Comparing and Contrasting Scientific Research to Media Article
  • Lesson 4: Rapamycin - Activity 4A - Teacher Directions - Comparing and Contrasting Scientific Research to Media Article
  • Rapamycin - Entire Activity Download

D’Scerner: Critical Thinking of a Study: "Opioids: Prescribing Patterns and Overdose-Related Deaths"

  • Administrivia: Administrative Section - GTS
  • Article: Opioid transformation article
  • Article: Pharmageddon media article final
  • Assessment: Key Opioid pre and Post Test
  • Assessment: Opioid pre and Post Test
  • Assessment: Post test answer sheet
  • Assessment: Pre test answer sheet
  • Lesson 1: Activity 1 - Student - Background Information for Opioid Transformation
  • Lesson 1: Activity 1 - Teacher - Background Information for Opioid Transformation
  • Lesson 1: Activity 1 - Thinking About the Study student Key
  • Lesson 1: Activity 1 Thinking About the Study student page
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2A - The Results Person Months Key
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2A - The Results person time Teacher support material
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2B - Absolute Risk student Key
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2B - Absolute Risk student pages
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2B- Teacher Support -- Absolute Risk
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2C - Student - Relative Risk
  • Lesson 2: Activity 2C - Teacher Support -- Relative Risk
  • Lesson 3: Activity 3 - Analyzing the results teacher support
  • Lesson 3: Activity 3 - Analyzing the resutls with Graphs (Student Activity Pages)
  • Lesson 3: Activity 3 - Graphing the data Key
  • Lesson 4: Activity 4 Compare and Contrast Student Key
  • Opioids - Entire Unit
  • Outline: Teacher Unit Outline

Topiramate: D’Scerner: Critical Thinking of Topiramate Study (Treating Alcohol Dependence)

  • Administrivia: Topiramate - Administrative Section
  • Article: Journal Treating Alcohol Dependence
  • Article: Media TEI News Reviews-Top. Final
  • Lesson 1: Module 1 - Topiramate For Alcohol Dependence
  • Lesson 2: Module 2 - Topiramate For Alcohol Dependence
  • Lesson 3: Module 3 - Topiramate For Alcohol Dependence
  • Lesson 4: Module 4 - Topiramate For Alcohol Dependence
  • Rubric: D’Scerner the LLL Rubric-Topiramate
  • Teacher Section: Topiramate
  • Topiramate - Entire Unit

D’Scerner: Critical Thinking of a Study: “Dopamine May Affect Thrill-Seeking Behavior in Humans”

  • Dopamine: Administrivia
  • Dopamine: Entire Unit
  • Lesson 1-4: Student Section Modules 1-4
  • Lesson 1: Leap Part 1 - Administrivia
  • Lesson 1: Leap Part 1 - Student
  • Lesson 1: Leap Part 1 - Teacher
  • Lesson 2: Leap 2 - Administrivia
  • Lesson 2: Leap 2 - Cards
  • Lesson 2: Leap 2 - Entire
  • Lesson 2: Leap 2 - Processing out
  • Lesson 2: Leap 2 - Teacher
  • Teacher Section Thrill Seeking

D’Scerner: Critical Thinking of a Study “Genetic Analysis Shows Gene Expression is Changed by Cocaine”

  • Article: Genetic - Epigenetics Journal Article Part II
  • Article: Part 1: TEI News Reviews - Cocaine Epigenetics
  • Article: Part 2: TEI News Reviews - Cocaine Epigenetics
  • Genetic - Entire Activity Download
  • Genetic - Entire Part I
  • Genetic - Entire Part II
  • Genetic - Part 1: Administrative Section
  • Genetic - Part 1: Teacher Section
  • Genetic - Part 2: Teacher Section
  • Lesson 1: Part 1: Module 1 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Parts I and II
  • Lesson 1: Part 2: Module 1 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Parts I and II
  • Lesson 2: Part 1: Module 2 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part I
  • Lesson 2: Part 1: Module 2 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Lesson 2: Part 2: Module 2 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Lesson 3: Part 1: Module 3 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part I
  • Lesson 3: Part 1: Module 3 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Lesson 3: Part 2: Module 3 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Lesson 4: Part 1: Module 4 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part I
  • Lesson 4: Part 1: Module 4 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Lesson 4: Part 2: Module 4 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Part 1: Journal Article Epigenetics Part I
  • Part 2: Genetic - Administrative Section

D’Scerner: Critical Thinking of a Review Article on the Role of Dopamine in Addiction

  • Article: Part 1 - Journal Article Role of Dopamine
  • Article: Part 1: TEI News Reviews-Dopamine and Addiction
  • Article: Part 2: Journal Article Role of Dopamine
  • Dopamine Addiction - Entire Activity Download
  • Lesson 1: Part 1: Module 1 Role of Dopamine Parts 1 2 and 3
  • Lesson 1: Part 2: Leap Part 1
  • Lesson 1: Part 3: Module 1 Role of Dopamine Parts 1 2 and 3
  • Lesson 2: Part 1: Module 2 Role of Dopamine
  • Lesson 2: Part 2: Module 2 Role of Dopamine
  • Lesson 3: Part 1: Module 3 Role of Dopamine
  • Lesson 3: Part 2: Module 3 Role of Dopamine
  • Lesson 4: Part 1: Module 4 Role of Dopamine
  • Lesson 4: Part 2: Module 4 - Cocaine & Epigenetics Part II
  • Lesson 4: Part 3: Module 4 Role of Dopamine
  • Part 1: Administrative Section
  • Part 1: Dopamine Addiction - Entire Part I
  • Part 1: Teacher Section
  • Part 2: Dopamine Addiction - Administrative Section
  • Part 2: Dopamine Addiction - Entire Part II
  • Part 2: Teacher Section - Dopamine Addiction
  • Part 3: Administrative Section - Dopamine Addiction
  • Part 3: Entire Part III - Dopamine Addiction
  • Part 3: Journal Article Role of Dopamine
  • Part 3: Teacher Section - Dopamine Addiction
  • Part 3: TEI News Reviews - Dopamine and Addiction
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