Education not-for-profit Cool Australia has launched a new package of secondary lessons and professional development courses developed around the theme of organ and tissue donation.
The lessons draw key messages from a new documentary film now screening in cinemas across Australia. Dying to Live follows the journey of seven Australians on the transplant list, highlighting the physical, social and emotional rollercoaster they experience. It aims to dispel the myths about organ and tissue donation and start conversations among families.
Together with the filmmakers, Cool Australia has developed 15 free lessons that get students thinking critically about organ and tissue donation.
Designed for Years 7-10, these online lessons include English, Science, Maths and Health and Physical Education.
Cool Australia’s Content Project Lead, Gabrielle Munro, explains the four Dying to Live units promote conversations about topics and issues that are often not talked about in Australian society.
“The lessons use a range of strategies and approaches to engage students and encourage them to make connections to real-world issues and problems,” she says.
“The personal stories in the documentary give an insight into social and ethical issue of organ and tissue transplantation as well as the social, emotional and physical implications of being on the waiting list.”
In the Years 9 and 10 English unit, students are given the opportunity to view different stories and investigate how a story can help change a person’s mind.
The Year 9 Science unit uses the personal realities of people on the waiting list to show how both the respiratory and urinary systems work.
The Year 10 Mathematics lessons encourage students to analyse the opt-in/opt-out system currently being discussed by comparing data with Spain.
“Using real data about an issue that is relevant to the world that students live in, helps make the learning authentic,” adds Ms Munro.
The Dying to Live package also includes two professional development courses for teachers:
• Exploring general capabilities: Ethical understanding
• Inspiring students to take action
These two-hour online professional development courses are accredited for professional development hours in all states and territories and are available on demand.
For more information, please click here.
