This issue is a "Hot" topic within the news at the moment and provides teachers with an outstanding start to a WebQuest.

The Commission for the Conservation of the Southern Bluefin Tuna (SBT) 2008 Advice as cited by Dr. Campbell Davies CSIRO (ABC Oct 16 Fishing puts southern bluefin tuna on the brink)  "The 2008 advice from the CCSBT Scientific Committee (Commission of Conservation for Southern Bluefin Tuna) is that spawning biomass of SBT is likely to be less than 10 per cent of the unfished level. This level is below the level of many nationally and internationally recognised limit reference points for fisheries management." Commission is made up of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and other Asian countries with an interest in the fish. About 90 per cent of Australia's SBT comes from Port Lincoln in South Australia.

Safe Climate Australia has been recently launched. This organisation is a non-profit organisation with numerous scientists and others involved in renewable energy being the founding members. This type of organisation would be a good one to introduce students to especially in the Conclusion of a WebQuest where Real World Feedback is sometimes required. Getting students to contact real scientists with their own views, solutions or ideas helps students to recognise that their own work is important!

WebQuest Direct has over 75 WebQuests on Global Warming and Climate Change.

Here is a 5 Star (the best) WebQuest about Global Warming!

Global Warming: Can you feel the heat?

Rating: Key Learning Areas: HSIE / SOSE / Social Studies; Science Key Competencies: Collecting, analysing and organising information; Communicating Ideas and information; Planning and organising activities; Solving problems; Using technology; Working in a team Tasks: Analytical; Compilation; Creative Product; Journalistic; Persuasion; Research; Science Grade Levels: Secondary / High School Country: Australia Language: English  Author: Kerrie Malcolm (2008)

(Source: IWC)

The International Whaling Commission (IWC) has heard reports about the smallest cetaceans: Dolphins, porpoises and small whales from the WWF, the news report cited

The Australian Minister for the Environment, Peter Garratt, said to the IWC meeting in Portugal that Whales were worth more alive than dead as the Whale watching business was worth around $3Billion worldwide.

On the other hand, European countries are set to increase their whale quota - to that above the Japanese scientists!!

This is a typical scenario for a great WebQuest:

• It involves a real life situation that is "messy" and involves Problem-Based Learning (PBL)
• antagonistic yet legitimate views are held by different perspectives or roles
• collaboration is required to obtain an outcome
• emotional intelligence is used
• Higher Order Thinking Skills of Analysis, Evaluation, Creativitiy [Synthesis] have to be used to work out a solution to this messy problem

I love the fact that you can bring real life and important events into the classroom while exploring the curriculum. In this case, the curriculum could be Ecology, Biology - particularly Diversity of Species, Political Sciences, Philosophy for Children (P4C), Values Education, Economics, or Geography.

Another fabulous ABC Catalyst last night on Stem Cells.

Source: ABC Catalyst

"Catalyst takes a look behind the headlines of the stem cell story. Stem cells have the potential to treat any diseases which need healthy new cells - from heart disease, alzheimers, parkinsons, and diabetes to spinal cord injuries. Stem cells come from embryos, but they also are hidden in the tissues of our bodies. But which cells should we use, and why?

We also examine the thorny issue of therapeutic cloning which scientists say offers great promise in delivering embryonic stem cells that are genetically identical to the patient. Just how far should we go in the search for medical cures?" (Source: ABC Catalyst) [My emphasis]

Both these questions could be regarded as the Focus, Essential or Big Question within a WebQuest about Stem Cells.

The heart of a WebQuest is the Big Question. This question is to challenge students to explore further into the subject material and to THINK!

Learning, using, practising Critical Thinking Skills is essential for students today as they face new problems that our society has never faced before.

This Science topic would make a fabulous WebQuest for Biology or Religious Education.

• the contagious cancer inflicting the Tasmanian Devils;
• Cedric the first Devil to have immunity to several strains of this disease;
• efforts to prevent extinction;
• offers to sequence the Devil's genome from Dr. Vanessa Hayes,
• and, lots more.

This would be a great topic for a WebQuest especially for those students who are interested in Biology, Ecology, or Molecular Biology.

• Crocodile Hunter
• Wildlife Ranger/Environmental Scientist
• Reptile Scientist
• Government official promoting tourism