I teach Precalculus to 11th and 12th grade students at James Hillhouse High School, within the New Haven Public School System. Established in 1859, James Hillhouse High School is the oldest high school in New Haven. It's one of the only two comprehensive high schools in the city. Hillhouse currently serves 949 students in ninth through twelfth grade. The student population comprises of 63% Black/African American, 31% Hispanic/Latino, 5% Caucasian, and less than 1% Asian, Native Americans and other unspecified ethnic minorities. Hillhouse students originate from thirty-two countries across the globe and speak twelve languages. A significant percentage of our student population are from Sub-Saharan Africa and mid-Eastern countries. Thus, Hillhouse student’s population mirrors to a large extent a mix of the demographics of low, mid and high-income countries.
This curriculum unit will look at the Impact Of Economics and Ethics On The Adoption of Human Centered Biotechnology. I have developed this Precalculus unit to help my students understand health and economy disparities between developing and developed countries. A significant proportion of my students have experienced these disparities in their lives. Developing lesson objectives that are relatable to student’s life experiences are best for student’s engagement and generating authentic conversations. Students will analyze data using economic and health indicators from both developing and developed countries. Additionally, students will conduct an opinion survey addressing ethical questions, such as why these disparities have persisted over the years and how best to address them.
