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Cognitive Enhancement Teen Role Play Forum

In this forum, learners grapple with the implications of two different future technologies that would enhance one's cognitive ability.

DESCRIPTION

This forum plays on very real concerns and fears of students: academic performance and taking standardized tests. The crux of this forum is: if there was a supplement or embedded nanotechnology available to the public that will enhance your cognitive abilities by making you smarter or give you instantaneous access to the internet, how would you or local community handle it? Is it cheating? By taking on roles that are somewhat familiar to them, they can put themselves into the shoes of decision makers whether they are parents, teachers, or principals.

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  • Image of a brain taken by a MRI
  • Image of a brain taken by a MRI

DESCRIPTION

This forum plays on very real concerns and fears of students: academic performance and taking standardized tests. The crux of this forum is: if there was a supplement or embedded nanotechnology available to the public that will enhance your cognitive abilities by making you smarter or give you instantaneous access to the internet, how would you or local community handle it? Is it cheating? By taking on roles that are somewhat familiar to them, they can put themselves into the shoes of decision makers whether they are parents, teachers, or principals.

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OBJECTIVES

BIG IDEA

The CETF is a forum where participants use role playing as a means to explore societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology on a topic they’ll readily identify with: academic performance. They will vocalize and examine their own values and engage others with their values.

LEARNING GOALS

  • Learners will be able to explore societal and ethical implications of nanotechnology in regards to measuring academic performance.

  • Learners will be able to vocalize concerns and ambitions concerning the use of nanotechnology on their own bodies.

  • Learners will appreciate that the dilemmas explored in this hypothetical situation are very similar to dilemmas with current technology and medicine.

NANO CONTENT MAP

Nanotechnologies—and their costs, utility, risks, and benefits—are closely interconnected with society and with our values.

Credits

YEAR CREATED
2011
OWNING INSTITUTION

NISE Network

FUNDING

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

PERMISSIONS

Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike 3.0 United States (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 US).
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DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

NISE Network products are developed through an iterative collaborative process that includes scientific review, peer review, and visitor evaluation in accordance with an inclusive audiences approach. Products are designed to be easily edited and adapted for different audiences under a Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike license. To learn more, visit our Development Process page.