Page 248 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised)

Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
d1. evaluate the impact of public policy initiatives and technological advances intended to control the spread of disease, taking into consideration the failure of some people to follow public health regulations or recommendations;
d2. investigate the characteristics, growth, and spread of bacteria, and the effects of aseptic techniques and antibiotics;
d3. demonstrate an understanding of the causes, symptoms, and modes of transmission of various diseases, and of strategies to prevent the spread of disease.
D1. Relating Science to Technology, Society, and the Environment
d. diSeASe And itS prevention OVERALL EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
THE ONTARIO CURRICULUM, GRADES 11 AND 12 | science
SPECIFIC EXPECTATIONS
By the end of this course, students will:
d1.1 evaluate the effectiveness of a public policy measure or technological advance intended to control the spread of disease (e.g., mandatory immunization, screening for tuberculosis, quar- antine) [AI, C]
Sample issue: The federal government estab- lished the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to ensure that the food eaten by Canadians is safe. Despite its regulations, food-borne illnesses such as salmonella, listeriosis, and mad cow disease continue to occur.
Sample questions: How effective are flu shots in reducing the incidence and severity of influenza, particularly among vulnerable populations like the elderly? What are some of the groups or organizations that track and inform the public of health risks? What tools and strategies do they use? How effective have they been in protecting human health?
d1.2 evaluate the impact, current and/or poten- tial, of an individual’s choice not to participate in a public health strategy intended to reduce the spread of disease (e.g., a hospital worker who does not follow recommendations regard- ing hand washing; a worker in a retirement home who does not get a flu shot) [AI, C]
Sample issue: Some parents are deciding not to immunize their children. Unvaccinated children can contract serious diseases such as polio and diphtheria and spread them to other unvaccin- ated children. The resurgence of such diseases would place a heavy burden on the health care system.
Sample questions: Why have signs showing proper hand-washing techniques been posted in many public restrooms? What can happen if someone in the food service industry ignores these signs? What can happen if a person infected with HIV refuses to use condoms?
d1.3 analyse, on the basis of research, the advan- tages and disadvantages of selected technologies used to try to control disease (e.g., the effective- ness of pharmaceuticals at combating disease; the side effects of a variety of drugs) [IP, PR, AI, C]
Sample issue: After World War II, DDT was widely used to kill insects that carried malaria. After researchers found that the pesticide caused abnormalities in some animals and cancer in humans, it was banned in many countries. However, in some countries with a high incidence of malaria, limited use of DDT continues.
Sample questions: What are the advantages and disadvantages of using insecticidal nets to try to control the spread of malaria? Why is the irradiation of food to eliminate food- borne bacteria controversial?
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