Developing a pedagogy of risk in socio-scientific issues

The aim of this research is to develop principles for a pedagogy of risk in socio-scientific issues. Risk is challenging to teach because of its contested conceptual basis incorporating epistemic and non-epistemic values, its situated nature and its mathematical basis in probability and statistics. In our project—Promoting Teachers’ Understanding of Risk in Socio-scientific Issues (TURS)—we have built a set of mature software tools designed through an epistemological analysis of risk and consideration of teaching and learning, as reflected in discussions with teachers. This software provides teachers with tools that enable them to express what they see as the significant issues, giving feedback for them to redraft their models in light of the consequences of their decisions. Pairs of science and mathematics teachers modelled a scenario based on personal decision-making for a surgical intervention. Inductive analysis of teacher dialogue generated four key findings: teaching risk lends itself to a multidisciplinary approach; recognition of the multidimensional nature of risk can be elicited through engagement with contextualised biological dilemmas; use of executable models promotes discussion of the complexity of risk, and expressive tools can be designed which support coordinated analysis of the multidimensional nature of risk

A pedagogic appraisal of the Priority Heuristic

We have explored how science and mathematics teachers made decisions when confronted with a dilemma in which a fictitious young woman, Deborah, may choose to have an operation that might address a painful spinal condition. We sought to explore the extent to which psychological heuristic models, in particular the Priority Heuristic, might successfully describe the decision-making process of these teachers and how an analysis of the role of personal and emotional factors in shaping the decision-making process might inform pedagogical design. A novel aspect of this study is that the setting in which the decision-making process is examined contrasts sharply with those used in psychological experiments. We found that to some extent, even in this contrasting setting, the Priority Heuristic could describe these teachers' decision-making. Further analysis of the transcripts yielded some insights into limitations on scope as well the richness and complexity in how personal factors were brought to bear. We see these limitations as design opportunities for educational intervention

Risk-based decision making in a scientific issue : a study of teachers discussing a dilemma through a microworld

Risk has now become a feature of science curricula in many industrialized countries. While risk is conceptualized within a number of different theoretical frameworks, the predominant model used in examination specifications is a utility model in which risk calculations are deemed to be objective through technical expert assessment and where the perceptions of individual actors can be corrected by appropriate rationalization of action and thought. However, research studies and other theories on risk suggest that a utility-based approach fails to take into account social, experiential, and cultural factors, which frame what is considered to be risky. Our research study with science and mathematics teachers deploys a microworld, “Deborah's dilemma,'' which presents a decision-making process involving probabilistic estimates in which teachers construct their own personal models of risk. Teachers were recorded in dialogue while working through the microworld. Inductive coding of the dialogue and interactions with the microworld show that teachers' decisions on risk have a rational underpinning, but that use of data and information only becomes coherent and comprehensible within the explicated values of decision makers. We suggest that designing programs on learning about risk in science must incorporate the opportunity to make values explicit and coordination of different dimensions of ris

Informal inferential reasoning as a contextualized risk-based enterprise

In this article we report the influence of contextual factors on mathematics and science teachers’ reasoning in risk-based decision-making. We examine previous research that presents judgments of risk as being subjectively influenced by contextual factors and other research that explores the role of context in mathematical problem-solving. Our own approach has been to develop carefully designed software tools that support the user to empathize with a hypothetical person, Deborah, who suffers from a medical condition. The tools were used by a group of teachers who were asked to help Deborah decide whether to have an operation that could cure the condition but which carries particular risks. In order to make this decision, the teachers were required to model the risks of the operation and also the lifestyle decisions that Deborah might make. We trace the teachers’ efforts to coordinate judgments of likelihood and impact. The data emphasize the sensitivity of reasoning to matters of context; we set out in detail the various ways in which the process was affected by context

Diagnósticos diferenciais de Paracoccidioidomicose em Pediatria e seguimento de paciente portadora da doença

This study reports the case of a 3-year-old child with the diagnosis of Paracoccidioidomycosis, raising the issues of differential diagnosis and medical follow-up after acute phase treatment. In the present case it becomes evident the delay in diagnosis and specific treatment, given the resemblance of symptoms with those seen in other conditions, according to the affected organs. The final diagnosis was obtained by means of pathologic analysis. Sulfamethoxazol-trimetoprim  and Anfothericin B were used as treatment. After resolution of the acute phase, the child was sent to the Pediatric Infections Department for medical follow-up.O diagnóstico de Paracoccidioidomicose em criança de três anos e seis meses leva à discussão a respeito dos diagnósticos diferenciais da doença, bem como sobre o seguimento ambulatorial após o tratamento da fase aguda. No caso apresentado, chama atenção a demora no diagnóstico e tratamento específico, uma vez que a paracoccidioidomicose produz sintomas que mimetizam outras doenças de acordo com o(s) órgão(s) acometido(s). O diagnóstico definitivo foi obtido por meio de estudo anátomo-patológico. No tratamento, foram utilizados Sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima e Anfotericina B. Após a resolução da fase aguda, a criança foi encaminhada ao ambulatório de Infectologia Pediátrica para continuar em acompanhamento clínico

Neotropical xenarthrans: a dataset of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics.

International audienceXenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions forecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosys-tem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts withdomestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their fulldistribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths.Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae(3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data onDasypus pilo-sus(Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized,but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In thisdata paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence andquantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is fromthe southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of theNeotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regardinganteaters,Myrmecophaga tridactylahas the most records (n=5,941), andCyclopessp. havethe fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data isDasypus novemcinctus(n=11,588), and the fewest data are recorded forCalyptophractus retusus(n=33). Withregard to sloth species,Bradypus variegatushas the most records (n=962), andBradypus pyg-maeushas the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to makeoccurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly ifwe integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, andNeotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure,habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possiblewith the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data inpublications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are usingthese data