No, biology teacher Manon Ockeloen is showing headlines from a current news feed saying that only half of the students their age are vaccinated against HPV. Is that a problem? For whom, only girls? The Ask-phase of the lesson has started. Before discussing this, students write down their own motivation for their vaccination decision. In addition, they place themselves against 3 statements on the topic on a Likert scale. For example, with safe sex, you don’t need an HPV vaccination. Or HPV vaccination is only useful for girls. At the end of the lesson, students again take a position.
After discussing the positions, Manon has the students individually write down their questions on the topic and skillfully compile these questions plenary in 4 questions to Find out. The available sources reflect different stakeholders in the debate. After discussion and evaluation of the source content in each group, Manon plenary wraps up their findings. After rethinking the 3 statements and their original decision, students are asked to Act and formulate their findings in a WhatsApp message to a friend or relative.
On the worksheets, almost all students changed their position on the 3 statements. . Students who were vaccinated began their motivation and discussion with ‘My mother told me to do it’, now I have more knowledge about pros and cons. One of the students who wasn’t vaccinated said smiling: ‘I now have enough arguments for a fierce debate at home. The sources were from all different sources [stakeholders], so I was not indoctrinated. She (teacher) told her decision and experience after the lesson activities.’ More encouraging quotes from students: This morning I doubted whether going to school would be useful. Well, it is. Useful for my life and I stayed awake because we needed to be active.
Manon is happy with these results: during class, students work harder than me. At this time of the day, it usually was the other way around. And I’m glad they find it more useful for their daily lives. I’m already going to miss the COSMOS meetings.
Manon gathering questions from the class
Part of the pupil’s worksheet. In relation to statements the pupils positions their standpoint prior to the lesson with an 1 and afterwards with a 2.