pgEd Summer Professional Development

Professional Development for High School Teachers
Earn 12 PDPs for the two-day session
Cost: $30 (scholarships available)

Personal Genetics in the High School Classroom: Ethical, Legal and Social Issues

Current high school students are among the first generation that will have unprecedented access to information about their DNA, as genome sequencing and genetic testing become cheaper and more available.  We create interactive lessons that engage students in discussions about the potential risks and benefits of knowing more about your DNA, as well as ways in which they could be impacted.

This two-day training for teachers will be an introduction to personal genetics and its impact on society. A wave of personal genetic information is coming – how can we prepare students to make informed choices for themselves and for society as a whole?

Through workshop-style sessions, we will look at examples of the hopes, realities and controversies in personal genetics.  We will start with an overview: Why is genetics getting more personal?  How will the flood of genetic testing impact this generation? Through our lessons, we make connections to real world opportunities and conundrums your students and their families will face in the coming years.

Topics to be covered: Advances in personal genetics, the intersection of athletics and genetics, genetics and aggression/complex human behavior, reproductive genetics, low cost genetic testing, fears and realities of genetic discrimination, crime and DNA, and critical thinking as it applies to assessing genetic risk factors. Curricular materials and articles will be provided.

Content Area:  Biology, Health, Social Studies, Genetics, and Bioethics; grades 9 – 12

For more information or to register, email Lauren Tomaselli at ltomaselli@pged.med.harvard.edu or call (617) 432-1797.