An Op-Ed Poster Display—NS241
ABSTRACT
An Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Poster Display discussing an historical &/or current controversial scientific issue and identifying and elaborating the sides of the issue and relating the cultural and/or historical aspects of the chosen topic to current social norms. Each student is to develop and present the poster from their generational point of view, discussing why, historically, they did so.
BACKGROUND
Donald L. Williams
Associate Professor, Biology
PROBLEM OR OPPORTUNITY
A history of science is presented in terms of the multicultural aspects of our scientific heritage. Focus is upon the nature of scientific inquiry and the social factors affecting the participation of diverse groups of individuals in the advancement of science.
This came about at the time Park University faculty were being asked to develop Core Assessment items that would epitomize the overall learning achieved in a course. I had seen the use of the Op-Ed poster as a unifying instrument for a course in a graduate course of my own.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE
ASSIGNMENT, ACTIVITY, COURSE INNOVATION
This Op-Ed poster project culminates in the student putting together, in the style of a newspaper Opinion-Editorial section, various items to illustrate how they perceive a controversial issue in terms of multicultural and historic perspectives of the scientific endeavor. Students are encouraged to include quotes from noted individuals in the field, political cartoons they have found or drawn themselves, side-bar essays of their own or of properly cited works.
I felt that this Op-Ed style presentation would be an excellent tool to use in this course because it calls for the student to integrate and synthesize the course content into a meaningful, end-of-course project centered on a particular theme of their choosing.
REFLECTION
This activity has caused me to stretch my thinking in terms of how to present an idea or controversial issue. I appreciate the way the student can incorporate the course material into a cohesive, visual whole which, in a short but dramatic way, illustrates their understanding of the course.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:
Materials cannot be copied or reproduced without written permission from the author.