Austria is still a country where smoking in public places is widely tolerated. Our government seems to be unwilling to pass a law that forbids smoking in bars and restaurants etc. Therefore even nowadays a topic like this is pretty popular here…
This webquest serves as a very good model that we can use for training purposes. There are many ways of introducing a topic like “smoking”
Introduction 1
- One good way of introducing this topic is be the movie “Thank You for Smoking” (2005),a satirical comedy that follows the machinations of tobacco company’s spokesman who spins on behalf of cigarettes while trying to remain a role model for his twelve-year-old son.More info at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0427944/
- Another way of introducing this topic, a short video impulse:
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Introduction 2
There has always been a lot of talk about smoking, the pros and cons. Should we have smoking and non-smoking areas, or should all public places be declared smoke free? What information do we need before we can make a decision on this issue?You are going to look at this issue from the point of view of doctors, smokers, anti-smoking lobbyists, and a journalist.
After collecting the information and discussing the issues from your point of view, you will join together with others to discuss the topic.
The Question
The main question you will be asked to find an answer for is:
Smoking is to be banned in all public areas, both indoor and outdoor. What are the potential effects of this, and what are the benefits to various members of the community?
Background Information
Before you start you need to gather information about smoking – what is tobacco, what is in a cigarette, what are the effects on the body, both good and bad, of having a cigarette? This web site will help you answer these questions, and give you a good background before dividing into your expert groups and gathering information about your point of view.
Info on smoking: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org
Individual Roles
Questions this big and important are better answered when a few people are working on it at one time. Things work even better when a group of you decide to look at the question from different perspectives. This way team members can become experts on different aspects of the question and then come together to pool their learning. This is where team work pays off. So are you ready to divide and conquer this question?
1. Doctors
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
- What are the effects of smoking on the body?
- What does passive smoking do to the body?
- What effect would banning smoking in public areas have on health in general?
Passive smoking information: www.lungusa.org
Cigarette information and statistics: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/
2. Smokers
Use the link below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
- What are the implications of banning smoking in a public place?
- How does discrimination fit into this topic?
- What effect would banning smoking in public places have on your right to choose?
Quit Smoking Information:
http://www.quitsmoking.com/quitinfo.htm
3. Anti smoking lobbyists
Use the links below to learn more about your role. Specifically, look for answers to the following questions:
- What are the main benefits to a non smoking environment?
- What programmes are available to those smokers who choose to quit?
Information on the impact of tobacco smoking: http://www.oxygen.org.au
4. Editor of a newspaper
You are an editor on your local newspaper on a special assignment. Your newspaper is devoting an entire series to banning smoking in public places. The series will examine a variety of aspects and perspectives on this issue. Finally, after you compile your report, you will write an opinion piece for the Editorial page.
Ultimately, you will be defining the debate and present various aspects of smoking today in order to better inform your public. As an editorial staff member, you will also present your opinions on the editorial page. Some questions to think about:
· What is the current debate about “banning smoking” all about?
· What are the impacts and implications of public smoking today? (economic? social? political?)
· What are the actual statistics, facts and figures about the effects of second hand smoke today?
· Do we need to ban smoking in public places?
Resources:
http://www.howthingswork.com
http://www.kidshealth.org
http://www.healthatoz.com
http://www.healthlinks.net
Group Synthesis
Congratulations! Your team is now full of expertise. Each person on your team has become an expert on the topic of smoking. You’ve all learned a lot of information. But guess what: gathering useful information isn’t the same as truly understanding a topic.
What experts in the field of learning suggest is that you now use that information in a new and challenging way. Then you’ll really know about this topic.
In your expert groups discuss the effects of banning smoking in all areas. After listening to these ideas, work out a solution or adaptation to banning smoking in all public places.
Write a proposal for your idea to be presented to your local council. Try to include the best interests of all community groups when designing your proposal. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. you explored to convince your team-mates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team’s answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can live with.
Some parts of this webquest were created by Yuvonne King, some by Terry Sheeran
Adaptation and new links: Reinhard Wieser
Original addresses:
www.decs.act.gov.au/publicat/druged/Pages/WebQuests/smoking/webquest.htm
http://tli.jefferson.k12.ky.us/EDTD675Projects/sheeran/WebQuest-Template-KDE.html
