Stem Cell Research: Thinking Math and Abstract

Stem cell research can be easily connected to the mathematical and abstract thinking domain. In scientific research, data collected comes in the form of a graph, table, chart, etc. Considering the mathematical and abstract thinking domain deals with interpreting such things, then the thinking domain and stem cell research must coincide. The thinking domain also has the goal to evaluate solutions to a problem and produce decide which will produce the best results. Stem cell research also does this, for it targets the problems, which include diseases such as Parkinson’s, cancer, diabetes, etc., and evaluates the solutions given to these problems. Scientists believe the answers to these problems lie within stem cell research and the public seems to agree.

 According to a recent survey, sixty percent of fertility patients would agree to donate the unused embryos, which would be discarded anyway, to stem cell research. (“Fertility Patients”). This survey shows that stem cell research does have a public backing, but the American government still will not fund stem cell research on embryos. People with mathematical and abstract thinking would then see that one of the major solutions to the absence of federal funding would be to have private grants donated to the research. According to "Stem Cell Grants Worldwide", there is no federal funding of embryonic stem cell research. Private grants are provided to scientists in order for them to continue research on embryonic stem cells. Other scientists study stem cells in adults and some animals. The public does agree with stem cell research, with some still being undecided on where they stand, and the private donations show this.  

Works Cited:

1. Gardner, Amanda. "Fertility Patients Favor Donating Unused Embryos for Research." Health News, Discussions, Articles, and Resources. 6 July 2007. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. http://sexualhealth.e-healthsource.com/index.php?p=news1&id=605761.
2. "Stem Cell Grants Worldwide." Sciclips, an Apen Innovation Platform for Scientific Breakthroughs, Collaboration and Philantropism. 2009. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.sciclips.com/sciclips/stemCellResearch.do?expandable=20&grants=Y>.

Say No To Gender Divided Classrooms

Gender divided classrooms inhibits a child’s ability to grow socially through necessary interactions with the opposite sex. Respect for the opposite gender would also be hard to obtain due to the lack of social interaction between genders. Boys and girls do learn differently, but it is important for them to learn together so they know how to work together. It is important for the students to be able to learn in an environment that is like the world outside of school, which will include both genders in any work environment. In an article by Jennifer Friend, she states, "Results of this study led to the conclusions that same-gender grouping did not produce significant differences in student science academic achievement and same-gender classes did not create a more positive classroom climate." (Friend). So instead of
dividing the classrooms by gender, the curriculum used in the classroom should be able to engage all students, regardless of gender. Certain improvements that would help students more than gender divided classrooms could include more parental involvement, smaller class sizes, and also better trained teachers.

Friend, Jennifer. "Research on Same-Gender Grouping in Eighth Grade Science
Classrooms." Research in Middle Level Education Online 30.4 (2006): 1-15. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 9 Nov. 2010.