Information Processing & the Nervous System Real-World Case Study | Life Science | Grades 6–8

This Real-World Case Study asks grades 6–8 Middle School Life Science students to weigh a real decision about Information Processing & the Nervous System and defend a solution with evidence.

Scenario: Fourteen-year-old Leo was born with profound sensorineural deafness in both ears because a genetic mutation prevented the microscopic mechanoreceptor hair cells inside his inner-ear cochlea from developing properly. Although Leo's outer ear, eardrum, and auditory nerve neurons leading to his brain are completely healthy and… Key question: "What factors should Leo, his parents, and his doctors weigh when deciding whether to proceed with cochlear implant surgery at age fourteen?"

What's inside: the scenario, 5 questions to consider, an answer key, arguments for and against for the teacher, and teacher notes.

Resource type: Case Study (.docx). Format: editable Microsoft Word handout with approximately 950 words (~6 pages).

Classroom use: independent response, small-group comparison, and a whole-class debate in a Middle School Life Science course. Grades 6–8.

Format note: These files are delivered in Microsoft Office formats (Word and/or PowerPoint). If you open a worksheet that includes tables in Apple Pages or another non-Microsoft app, table formatting may not display correctly. For best results, use Microsoft Word or PowerPoint (or upload the file to Google Docs). If you run into any formatting issues, contact us and we can send a PDF version.