Lesson Plan | Teachy Methodology | Science and its Contexts: Ethics, Freedom, Culture, and Religion

Objectives

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This stage of the lesson plan aims to prepare students for an in-depth and contextual discussion about the themes of ethics, freedom, culture, and religion in the modern and scientific world. By setting clear objectives, the intent is to guide both the teacher and students so that they can effectively engage in subsequent practical activities, promoting a critical and reflective understanding of these concepts in their everyday lives and digital environments.

Main Objectives

1. Understand the interrelation between ethics, freedom, culture, and religion in the context of modern science.

2. Identify and analyze different perspectives on these topics on digital platforms and social media.

Side Objectives

1. Stimulate critical thinking about the influence of social media on shaping opinions about ethics and religion.

Introduction

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

This initial stage aims to engage students from the start by connecting the lesson topic to their daily lives through the use of mobile devices and online research. The goal is to activate prior knowledge, foster curiosity, and prepare the ground for deeper discussions throughout the lesson.

Warming Up

Introduce the theme of the lesson by briefly discussing how ethics, freedom, culture, and religion are interconnected in the context of modern science. Make a connection to current events, such as debates on bioethics, freedom of expression on social media, and cultural conflicts surrounding scientific discoveries. Then, instruct the students to use their cell phones to find an interesting or recent fact related to the topic and share it with the class. This initial activity serves to contextualize the topic and bridge it with the students' reality.

Initial Reflections

1. How does ethics influence modern scientific decisions?

2. In what ways does freedom of expression manifest in discussions about science on social media?

3. What are the cultural impacts of scientific discoveries in different societies?

4. How can religion clash with or align with contemporary science?

5. Can you identify any recent examples where these themes intersected in online debates?

Development

Duration: 70 - 80 minutes

The purpose of this stage is to provide students with a practical and applied deepening of the concepts discussed, allowing them to explore real dilemmas creatively and engagingly. The activities aim to develop skills in argumentation, teamwork, and conscious use of digital technologies while critically reflecting on the intersection of ethics, freedom, culture, and religion in the context of modern science.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended that only one of the suggested activities be carried out

Activity 1 - Storytelling on Social Media: Stories of Ethics and Science 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Allow students to explore ethical and scientific dilemmas creatively while developing argumentative and critical reflection skills.

- Description: In this activity, students must create a story in the format of social media posts (Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok) addressing an ethical dilemma in a scientific context. Each group should consider how ethics, freedom, culture, and religion influence the decisions of the characters in the story.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students.

• Instruct each group to choose a social media platform to represent the story.

• Students must create fictional profiles for characters involved in an ethical-scientific dilemma.

• Each group should develop at least 5 posts that tell the story from the perspective of the different characters.

• The posts should include text, images, hashtags, and even short videos to enhance the narrative.

• After creation, the groups must share their stories in a presentation to the class, justifying the ethical and cultural choices made by the characters.

Activity 2 - Digital Influencers of Ethics and Science 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Engage students in using digital platforms to raise awareness and inform about ethical and scientific dilemmas, stimulating creativity and communication skills.

- Description: The groups will become 'digital influencers' for a day. They must create a video campaign discussing the relationship between ethics, science, freedom, culture, and religion. The campaign should be designed for a video platform like YouTube or TikTok and needs to engage and raise awareness among the audience about the importance of these themes in contemporary science.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students.

• Each group should choose a central theme related to ethics, science, freedom, culture, and religion.

• Students must write a script for a short video (2-3 minutes) covering the chosen theme.

• Encourage students to use visual resources and digital tools to make the video engaging and informative (transitions, animated texts, background music).

• Record and edit the video using cell phones.

• Present the final campaign to the class, explaining the thematic choices and engagement strategies used.

Activity 3 - Debate Game: Ethics and Religion in Conflict 

> Duration: 60 - 70 minutes

- Objective: Develop skills in argumentation, negotiation, and critical reflection while exploring different perspectives on ethical and scientific dilemmas.

- Description: Students will participate in a gamified debate game where different groups take on roles of various social agents (scientists, religious leaders, activists, etc.) and must debate a scientific-ethical dilemma. The debates will be conducted on a videoconferencing platform, using avatars and virtual discussion rooms.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of no more than 5 students, assigning each group a role (e.g., scientists, religious leaders, human rights activists).

• Define a scientific-ethical dilemma to be debated (e.g., the use of stem cells in research, genetic editing).

• Instruct each group to research and prepare arguments according to their role.

• Organize virtual debate rooms using a videoconferencing platform (Zoom, Google Meet).

• Each group must create a digital avatar representing their group in the debate.

• The debates occur in rounds, with moderators (teacher and/or volunteer students) guiding the discussions.

• After the debate rounds, hold a reflective discussion with the class about the main conclusions and learnings.

Feedback

Duration: 20 - 25 minutes

 Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to consolidate learning by promoting critical reflection and the exchange of perspectives among students. The group discussion and 360° feedback help reinforce the concepts covered, allowing students to evaluate their contributions and learn from their peers' experiences. This also promotes an environment of respect and collaboration, which are fundamental for developing social and argumentative skills.

Group Discussion

️ Group Discussion: Facilitate a group discussion with all students. Begin the session by asking each group to share their experience with the completed activities and the conclusions they reached. Use the following script as a guide:

1. Introduction: 'Let's share the stories and campaigns we created. Can each group please highlight the main ethical dilemmas and decisions made by the characters?'
2. Reflection: 'What were the main challenges you encountered when trying to represent different perspectives on ethics and science?'
3. Conclusion: 'How did these activities help you better understand the intersection of science, ethics, freedom, culture, and religion?'

Reflections

1.  How did creating the stories and digital campaigns change or reinforce your opinions on ethical dilemmas in the modern scientific context? 2.  What are the main differences you perceived between the ethical approaches discussed on social media and more academic or traditional approaches? 3.  How did group collaboration help or hinder your understanding of the concepts of ethics, freedom, culture, and religion?

360° Feedback

 360° Feedback: Instruct students to conduct a 360° feedback stage, where each participant must receive feedback from their group peers. Guide the class to ensure that the feedback is constructive and respectful. Provide the following guidelines:

1. Positive: 'What were the strengths of each member's contribution to the group?'
2. Improvements: 'What could each member improve in future activities?'
3. Collaboration: 'How could the group dynamics be improved to promote more efficient collaboration?'

Conclusion

Duration: 10 - 15 minutes

 Purpose: The purpose of this stage is to consolidate and reflect on the acquired learnings, connecting them to students' realities and daily lives. By summarizing, contextualizing, and discussing the practical applications of the themes addressed, this stage reinforces the relevance of the content studied, promoting a critical and engaged understanding.

Summary

 Summary: Imagine that modern science is a grand stage where different actors (ethics, freedom, culture, and religion) present their stories. Today, we explored how each of these characters influences and is influenced by scientific discoveries. They intersect in incredible dilemmas, generating fervent debates and deep reflections on how to live in an increasingly connected and digital world.

World Connection

 In the World: Our lesson today directly connects with how we interact in modern society, especially through social media. We live in an era where information circulates rapidly, and ethical dilemmas and cultural conflicts are widely discussed in digital spaces. Science is not confined to laboratories; it is present in our feeds, tweets, and stories, shaping and being shaped by our cultures and beliefs.

Practical Application

 Applications: Understanding the intersection between ethics, freedom, culture, religion, and science is essential for navigating a world full of innovations and ethical challenges. The decisions we make daily, from consuming technologies to taking positions in public debates, are influenced by these themes. Being aware of their implications makes us more informed and responsible citizens.