Introduction – Task – Process – Evaluation - Conclusion

Introduction

An outbreak of itchy red bumps has infected many of your classmates, and is slowly spreading throughout the school, and possibly into the city if you and you’re team are unable to determine what’s going on.

Task

You and your team of scientists need to help determine the cause of this out break of the itches and persuade the scientific community that your findings are correct. You and your team must also develop a plan to aid all your itching patients from scratching themselves to death.

Process

· You and your team must decide what might be causing the itchy red bumps, so you should consult with each other about the different possibilities, since all of you must be able to present a compelling argument to the scientific board as well as the community.

· Each member of the team must keep a journal detailing the findings and research the team as well as any individual findings they discovered. The journals are also a great way to vent any frustration that you might be having with any of your fellow team members.

· As soon as your team decides on the cause, you all must develop a plan for all the itchy patients to follow so that they can get rid of their scratchiness ASAP! They’re all going mad with itchy figitness. Make sure that your patients know why it is highly important they follow your plan verses others that might be presented to them.

· *Your presentation may be in a poster, overhead or PowerPoint form*

· Here are a few websites that may help you come up with some relevant causes:

http://www.healthy.nf.ca/pamphlets/misc/scabies.html (scabies or itches)

http://www.pediatricweb.com/seattle/bartarticle.asp?tArticleID=731

http://www.boystownpediatrics.org/HealthTips/insect.asp (some solutions to the itchiness)

http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/sym/itching_skin.htm (a really good site contains different causes and possible solutions)

Evaluation

· Students will be evaluated on their written scientific findings and oral presentation based on the following rubric:

itchy scratchy

	1	2	3	4	Your Score
Attention to Audience	Did not attempt to engage audience	Little attempt to engage audience	Engaged audience and held their attention most of the time by remaining on topic and presenting facts with enthusiasm	Engaged audience and held their attention throughout with creative articulation, enthusiasm, and clearly focused presentation
Clarity	No apparent logical order of presentation, unclear focus	Content is loosely connected, transitions lack clarity	Sequence of information is well-organized for the most part, but more clarity with transitions is needed	Development of thesis is clear through use of specific and appropriate examples; transitions are clear and create a succinct and even flow
Presentation Length	Greatly exceeding or falling short of allotted time	Exceeding or falling short of allotted time	Remained close to the allotted time	Presented within the allotted time
Content	Thesis is unclear and information appears randomly chosen	Thesis is clear, but supporting information is disconnected	Information relates to a clear thesis; many relevant points, but they are somewhat unstructured	Exceptional use of material that clearly relates to a focused thesis; abundance of various supported materials
Speaking Skills	Monotone; speaker seemed uninterested in material	Little eye contact; fast speaking rate, little expression, mumbling	Clear articulation of ideas, but apparently lacks confidence with material	Exceptional confidence with material displayed through poise, clear articulation, eye contact, and enthusiasm
Logical Consistency	Right or wrong, the explanation shows poor understanding of the process or issue and has misapplication of principles and evidence.	Right or wrong, the explanation is not well supported by principles, evidence and/or these may be applied without complete understanding	Right or wrong, the explanation integrates most principles, evidence, known to author(s), but has omissions and inconsistencies.	Right or wrong, the explanation integrates all principles, evidence, known to author(s) in a logically consistent way.
Generalizes Explanation	No extension beyond specific explanation or extension is out side of the boundaries of science.	Little extension of explanation to other situations or phenomena or speculation is inappropriate, and or unsupported.	Speculates on a wider application of explanation, but does not apply to specific situations or phenomena.	Attempts to use explanation to make predictions in different situations. E.G., "If this is right, then maybe its how … works."
Use of Numerical Data	Relevant data not cited or cited erroneously. Units are not accurate and values are not consistent with general explanation.	Some data cited are inaccurate or have inappropriate units. No attention to size of values. Important omissions.	Data cited are accurate and have appropriate units. For some data the citation shows poor understanding of size of values. Minor omissions.	Data cited are always accurate and always have appropriate units. The citation indicates understanding of size of values.
Argument	Lack of confidence with subject matter which leads to unconvincing argument	Some confidence with material; does not present a convincing argument	Confidence with most material, thus presenting fragmented argument	Confidence with all material which leads to strong, convincing, consistent argument
Evidence of Daily Writing	Many entries are entirely absent from notebook	Some entries are missing from notebook	All entries are present, but some reflect partial, haphazard engagement	All entries are carefully constructed and presented in their entirety

Conclusion

· Wow! You and your team learned a lot about the itchy red bumps. What would your prognosis and diagnosis be if someone very important to you told you about their itchy problem (they had a variety of symptoms)? As a doctor what would you prescribe? What should/ shouldn’t do? Prescribe a health plan for your important person to follow.