A bioethics discussion is not about having students make up their minds on an issue, rather it is about exploring other points of view and perspectives. A bioethics discussion can begin with any current event from the newspaper. There is no shortage of news stories about astounding advances in medical or genetic technology. It's the personal element, however, that makes a bioethics analysis truly gripping. A bioethical discussion can last a single period or stretch over several weeks.
Students can research the science behind the story and relate it to the current unit of study.
Many different information sources can be used such as interviews, literature searches, Internet research, or even laboratory and hands-on experiments. Students must gather information, analyze and classify complex viewpoints, develop realistic alternatives, and then express their findings in cogent, organized fashion. You are asking them to demonstrate critical thinking skills in an authentic situation. Ethical decision making sets up a dilemma where students are asked to explore the pros and cons of a situation from a variety of perspectives. The emphasis is on the process of arriving at an acceptable solution in which all stakeholders had an opportunity to have input.