Introduction

Lately you have noticed that you teacher seems to be getting older. She cannot see as well as she used to and you feel bad for her. You start to notice that many people around you including other teachers, family member and friends have poor eyesight. You decide that you want to make a difference in people's lives when you grow up so you are going to become an opthalmologist or eye doctor.

The Quest

In order to make sure that becoming an opthalmologist is the right career path for you, your task is to learn more about the human eye and vision.

The Process and Resources

Your task is to use the internet to gather information about the anatomy of the eye. That means the parts of the eye and what they do. You also need to find out about the common eye disorders of nearsightedness and farsightedness. As you visit the various websites your teacher has chosen for you to explore, answer the questions in your notebook. After you have thouroughly explored the websites your job is to draw a diagram of the human eye labeling its parts and what they do. Underneath your diagram you should write a paragraph including these parts.
1. Explain how your eye allows you to see.
2. Explain what nearsightedness and farsightedness are.
3. Explain what you would do if you were an eye doctor or opthalmologist to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness in your patients.
4. Finally explain whether or not you want to be an opthalmologist after all of your research.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Sight is one of our most important senses. We learn much about our world through our eyes. The question you are to ponder is how are we able to see?

• Eye Anatomy - Look at the different parts of the eye and what they do. Be sure to write down the job of the retina, lens, cornea, iris, and optic nerve as well as any other parts you feel are important.
• Eye Disorders - What is Nearsightedness? What is Farsightedness? How can they be corrected? Write down your answers.
• Light - Read about how light is related to vision. Write down 3 things you learned about light.
• Vision - Click on Health. Click on Vision. Watch the movie and play the quiz. You will find out about the sclera, cornea, iris, lens, retina, and optic nerve. You will also find out how your eyes help you see. You can hit pause anytime during the movie to write down important information. You can also watch the movie as many times as you need to. Answer these questions. 1. What does the sclera look like? 2. What is the job of the cornea? 3. What is the job of the Iris? 4. What is the job of the lens? 5. What is the job of the optic nerve? 6. What are rods? 7. What are cones? 8. What does having 2 eyes help you do? 9. What is unique about the way horses see? 10. What is unique about the way bees see?
• The Eye - Click on Health . Click on the Eye. Watch the movie and play the quiz. You can watch the movie as many times as you need to. You can press pause to take notes. Look at how light enters your eye. Find out the job of the lens, and retina and optic nerve. Find out about nearsightedness and farsightedness and how concave and convex lenses can correct these problems. Answer these questions. 1. What does a concave lens look like? 2. What can a concave lens correct? 3. What does a convex lens look like? 4. What can a convex lens correct? 5. What do rods do? 6. What do cones do?

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

Your task is broken into smaller steps below.

role, job or perspective #1

Visit each sight keeping in mind that you will need to make a diagram of the human eye with the parts and their functions labeled. You will also need to write a paragraph explaining
1. Explain how your eye allows you to see.
2. Explain what nearsightedness and farsightedness are.
3. Explain what you would do if you were an eye doctor or opthamologist to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness in your patients.
4. Finally explain whether or not you want to be an opthamologist after all of your research.

role, job or perspective #2

Create the diagram of the eye.

role, job or perspective #3

Label the parts of the eye and their functions.

role, job or perspective #4

Write your paragraph with these parts.
1. Explain how your eye allows you to see.
2. Explain what nearsightedness and farsightedness are.
3. Explain what you would do if you were an eye doctor or opthalmologist to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness in your patients.
4. Finally explain whether or not you want to be an opthalmologist after all of your research.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

Discuss these questions with your group.
1. Why is vision important?
2. What would your life be like if you could not see?

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

Discuss this question with your group.
1. What have your eyes done for you lately?

Your Contact is: the designated contact

Conclusion

Now that you know more about the human eye, its parts and its function, do you still want to be an opthalmologist?