RET 2006: Type II Diabetes: A Growing Adolescent Epidemic
| Module Developed by: | Joanne Yonan |
| Louis Agassiz Elementary School | |
| Grade Level: | 8-10 |
| Research Mentor: | Ali Cinar |
| Chemical & Biological Engineering |
Module Abstract
The primary goal of this module is for students to design their own nutritional and wellness regime and compare it to their current diet and wellness choices. The Type II Diabetes module is designed for a freshman high school biology class. The module addresses nutrition, cellular respiration, metabolism, hormones and the pancreas/liver coordination, and homeostasis. Students learn about these concepts through inquiry designed activities, research and a wellness and blood glucose monitoring simulation model designed by IIT's progress modeling, monitoring, and control research group under the direction of Dr. Ali Cinar.
After learning about healthy choices, students will compare it to the dietary supplement industry and evaluate the ethics behind this industry. At the module's conclusion, student's primary assessment is a three fold brochure explaining the causes, risks, and management of adolescent diabetes from the nutritional, wellness, and physiological concepts learned in this unit along with how it fits with the promises of the dietary supplement industry.
Module Material
The RET material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under grant No. EEC-0502174. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, or the Illinois Institute of Technology.