Teaching Bioethics
A Guidebook for High School and College Educators
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During the Coronavirus Pandemic, the act of teaching was relegated to on-line learning. Because Covid-19 was an issue of importance to the field of public health and bioethics, I was asked by the school leadership at my high school to develop a bioethics course. Based on the request, I wrote a detailed bioethics syllabus to initiate the course. In the Fall of 2000, I spearheaded and established the first course in bioethics for high school students in the New York City Public School System. The themes in the course provided an overview of topics, issues, and challenges that bioethicists face in modern society. In addition, the course analyzed the historical knowledge needed to frame a comprehensive understanding of bioethics. Students were challenged against their own beliefs, values, and presuppositions to gain greater insight into what is ethically right and wrong. The notion of morality was touched upon in the class, but a general idea of ethics was the main point of discovery and discussion. The course ended in the Spring of 2024. For a duration of four years, I taught bioethics as an elective course in science for self-contained and integrated co-teaching settings. After teaching the course, I decided to collect all the major course activities I created and compile them into book form. This book should be used as a guide to study and discuss bioethical issues that affect us all. Some lessons include videos that students watch to answer various questions for discussion, while other activities challenge students to engage in peer-to-peer exercises. I have also included guided notes to assist the teacher in explaining certain topics of discussion. Overall, I believe that this book serves as an effective reference tool to guide and assist teachers and professors who educate students in the high school and college settings. Although most of these course activities were created for high school students, the information shared in this book is also applicable to all college students who study bioethics as well.
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About the Book
Teaching Bioethics: A Guidebook for High School and College Educators is a resource guide that contains numerous lesson plans and activities high school teachers and college professors can implement to teach bioethics. A wealth of learning is contained within this comprehensive and dynamic book. These lesson plans and activities can be implemented to facilitate group work among peers or to encourage individualized learning. When students learn through Teaching Bioethics, they acquire an introductory to higher level education because of the critical knowledge shared to readers. The learning content will undoubtably challenge students to think critically so they can effectively practice bioethics in their chosen medical or health care profession.
About the Author
Obiora N. Anekwe is a writer, visual artist, bioethicist, and teacher. To date, he has authored and coauthored eighteen books. In addition, Dr. Anekwe has published numerous peer-reviewed and nonpeer-reviewed articles, commentaries, and opinion editorials. He has presented his research in the fields of bioethics and education both nationally and internationally. Dr. Anekwe is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University (B.A., mass media arts with honors), Tuskegee University (M.Ed., counseling and student development with honors), Auburn University (Ed.D., educational leadership with honors), Columbia University in the City of New York (M.S., bioethics with high honors and distinction), Pace University (M.S.T., special education with honors), and the College of Saint Rose/the CITE (Center for Integrated Teacher Education) Program (advanced certificate in school administration). He is a tenured public school special education teacher who resides in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Rev. Alexis S. Anekwe, and their son, Amari O. Anekwe.