Ventilator allocation ethics debate
Students will debate how scarce ventilators should be allocated during a respiratory crisis.
Written position on ventilator allocation, citing one ethical criterion and naming one genuine tradeoff in triage decisions.
- 1Do thisStudents will debate how scarce ventilators should be allocated during a respiratory crisis.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisExit ticket: Written position on ventilator allocation, citing one ethical criterion and naming one genuine tradeoff in triage decisions.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Human Anatomy & Physiology (Human Body Systems) › Unit 3.1 Gas Exchange: Respiratory anatomy, sheep pluck or virtual alternative, lung volumes, spirometry, expedition clearance. › Exit ticketOpen Schoology
Read to prepare for today
Vetted sources picked for today's question. Skim these before you take a position or start the work, so your argument and evidence are grounded.
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: Resource scarcity in medicine forces explicit ethical choices about whose life receives priority support.
- 0-8Read the ventilator shortage scenario; assign triage team roles
- 8-22Group prep: list 2 ethical allocation criteria from your team's perspective
- 22-40Debate round 1: each group presents its strongest criterion
- 40-55Challenge round: each group responds to one opposing criterion
- 55-70Individual writing: position with one supporting reason
- 70-80Share and submit exit ticket
- • During a pandemic surge, hospitals ran out of ventilators and had to decide who would receive the last one.
- • Today you are on the triage team making that call.
- • There is no answer that feels good, but your reasoning must be principled and consistent.
- • Leave with a written position backed by at least one ethical argument.
- 1Read a short scenario on a ventilator shortage.
- 2Form groups representing hospital triage teams.
- 3List two ethical criteria for allocating ventilators.
- 4Respond to one opposing group's criterion.
- 5Write your position with one supporting reason.
- • Each student defends an allocation criterion.
- • Groups identify one tradeoff in triage decisions.
- • Ventilators provide mechanical breathing support to patients who cannot breathe independently.
- • Triage frameworks used during crises may include expected survival, age, and functional status.
- • The ethics of crisis standards of care connect to pathophysiology and public health content on the WebXam.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 3.1 Gas Exchange: Respiratory anatomy, sheep pluck or virtual alternative, lung volumes, spirometry, expedition clearance. · Ventilator allocation ethics debate
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Continue in Lesson 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection on myPLTW and complete the ethics or debate reflection prompt for today's ventilator-allocation activity.
Mark the activity complete in myPLTW after submitting your ventilator-allocation exit ticket.
You completed the cardio portion of Lesson 3.1 last week; this week covers respiratory content within the same lesson, and the task should be checked off today.
Note or screenshot of completion status for your tracker.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Unit 3.1 Gas Exchange: Respiratory anatomy, sheep pluck or virtual alternative, lung volumes, spirometry, expedition clearance. · Ventilator allocation ethics debate
Continue in Lesson 3.1 Cardiopulmonary Connection on myPLTW and complete the ethics or debate reflection prompt for today's ventilator-allocation activity.
You completed the cardio portion of Lesson 3.1 last week; this week covers respiratory content within the same lesson, and the task should be checked off today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Students will debate how scarce ventilators should be allocated during a respiratory crisis.
- Read a short scenario on a ventilator shortage.
- Form groups representing hospital triage teams.
- List two ethical criteria for allocating ventilators.
- Respond to one opposing group's criterion.
- Write your position with one supporting reason.
Exit ticket: Written position on ventilator allocation, citing one ethical criterion and naming one genuine tradeoff in triage decisions.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read a short scenario on a ventilator shortage. | _______ |
| Form groups representing hospital triage teams. | _______ |
| List two ethical criteria for allocating ventilators. | _______ |
| Respond to one opposing group's criterion. | _______ |
| Write your position with one supporting reason. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- Each student defends an allocation criterion.
- Groups identify one tradeoff in triage decisions.
Resources & readings
Vetted readings and references for this unit. Use them to prepare, to catch up if you were absent, or to go deeper on today's target.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
Debate whether ventilator allocation should weigh survival odds over first-come order; record two points per side.
Then submit your Exit ticket on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
MedlinePlus: Pulmonary function testsOptional extra credit (async)
You've passed Unit 2, so the optional extra-credit track is open. Complete reserved-unit work from home (virtual labs included) for extra credit, all submitted on Schoology.
Open the extra-credit track- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Mon, Nov 23, 2026 · Ventilator allocation ethics debate here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
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