Mobile phones Lesson 1: Is it worth the risk?

Starter

Ask the class the following questions:

• Do you travel by car to school?
• Do you catch the bus to school?
• Do you play football after school?
• Do you walk the dog?
• Do you eat beefburgers?
• Do you eat spaghetti bolognaise?
• Do you go out after dark?

Explain that life is full of such decisions. Can we be sure that we'll travel safely to school? We'll probably be safe from injury playing with the dog, won't we? The idea of probability plays a big part in our lives.

Using the matrix in Resource 1, get the students to plot the activities listed above showing the degree of probability and seriousness of consequence.

Main Activity

What about mobile phones? Do you own one? How regularly do you use it? Do you recognise any risks associated with this? Are you familiar with the precautionary principle? What is the probability of a mobile phone affecting your life?

The idea of probability is helpful in understanding scientific research. Many scientists try to understand how we are affected by things. When we hear reports by scientific research, we might expect to have definite answers 100% proof. This is just not possible.

Ask the students to look at Resource 2, which raises issues of uncertainty and the influence of the media, and work through the tasks.

Plenary

Discuss the outcomes from Resource 2.

Ideas to discuss include:

• the influence of the media on public opinion;
• press responsibility;
• actions on the public resulting from press influence.

Homework

Ask the students to call into their local mobile phone shop and ask for a copy of the leaflet which the Government requires is given to all people under the age of 16 when their purchase a mobile phone.

Go to Lesson 2

Downloads

Mobile phones: Lesson 1 (, 35 KB)
Mobile phones: Resource 1 (, 33 KB)
Mobile phones: Resource 2 (, 36 KB)