The 'ostension-teaching' approach as a means to develop junior-high student attitudes towards biotechnologies

The present paper refers to a study in which biotechnologies were used as a channel to teach 9th grade pupils (15 years of age) about intra-cellular biological processes, by means of 'ostension' or, literally, by 'showing'. This teaching method, instead of dealing with proofs for the existence of any abstract theory based on the molecular (micro) level, shows the 'theory in action'. Three modules were developed for the study, all of them designed along the same pattern. After studying the modules, the students were requested to ask questions about specific biotechnologies, then to permit or to prohibit their use. The students were able to foresee various types of arguments for and against the use of a given biotechnology. Most of the students displayed moderate attitudes towards biotechnologies, and established clear priorities in situations of moral dilemma.