Emerging Healthcare Technologies

Lesson Overview

Unit: Tech Transforming Healthcare
Lesson Number: 3 of 4
Year Level: 12
Curriculum Area: Year 12 Health & Human Development (aligned with the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education – Senior Secondary, focusing on health literacy and technology in healthcare)
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 25 students

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

• Identify and evaluate emerging healthcare technologies, including health apps, artificial intelligence (AI), and assistive technology.
• Analyse the benefits and ethical concerns of these technologies in patient care.
• Present research findings in an engaging and insightful manner.

Success Criteria

• Identifies and explains at least one emerging healthcare technology.
• Evaluates both benefits and potential risks of the chosen technology.
• Effectively communicates information in a clear and engaging group presentation.

Resources Required

• Technology Access: Laptops/tablets for research and presentations.
• Printed Handouts: Summary of emerging technologies in healthcare (for students who prefer non-digital resources).
• Projector/Screen: For student presentations.
• Timer: To manage group work and presentations.

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Lesson Structure

1. Introduction – Setting the Scene (10 mins)

Teacher Leads Discussion:

• Start with an engaging question: “What do you think healthcare will look like in 10 years?”
• Display a short, thought-provoking scenario on-screen (e.g. a hospital where robots assist doctors, AI diagnoses diseases, and apps monitor patient health daily).
• Discuss key themes: Efficiency, Accessibility, Ethical Concerns.

Think-Pair-Share:

• Have students quickly brainstorm one way technology has impacted healthcare today.
• Share ideas with the class.

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2. Investigation – Researching Emerging Technologies (20 mins)

Student Task – Small Group Research:

• Divide the class into five groups (5 students per group). Each group is assigned one of the following healthcare technologies:

  1. AI in Medical Diagnosis – AI tools detecting diseases such as cancer earlier than traditional methods.
  2. Wearable Health Technology – Smartwatches, fitness bands, and glucose monitoring devices.
  3. Telemedicine & Virtual Healthcare – Remote consultations, especially relevant to rural Australia.
  4. Assistive Technology for Disability Support – Innovations for individuals with disabilities like smart prosthetics.
  5. Personalised Medicine & Gene Therapy – Tailored treatments based on genetic information.

• Groups have 15 minutes to research using laptops/tablets and formulate answers to these guiding questions:

  • What is this technology, and how does it work?
  • What are its current applications in Australia?
  • What are the benefits?
  • What are the potential risks or challenges?

• Encourage students to find REAL Australian examples (e.g. Australian hospitals using AI diagnostics).

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3. Group Presentations – The Pitch (15 mins)

• Each group has 3 minutes to present their findings, using:

  • Concise slides or visual props.
  • A real-world example of the technology in action.
  • A discussion on any ethical concerns or accessibility issues.

• After each presentation, allow 1-minute Q&A where other students can ask questions.

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4. Reflection & Discussion – Ethical Debate (10 mins)

Class Debate: Pose the question:
"Should healthcare rely heavily on emerging technology, or does it create more problems than solutions?"

• Divide the class in half—one side for technology-driven healthcare, the other against it.
• Give each side 3 minutes to formulate key points, then debate them in a structured discussion.

Final Reflection:

• Ask students to write a one-sentence exit statement (on paper or digitally) answering:
  “What is the most promising or concerning healthcare technology, and why?”

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Assessment & Evaluation

• Informal Observation: Participation in group work, engagement in discussion.
• Quick Feedback: Students’ exit statements provide insight into understanding and interest.
• Summative (Next Lesson): The following lesson will build upon this by exploring healthcare equity—who benefits most from new technology?

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Differentiation

• Support for Diverse Learners:

  • Provide printed research summaries for students who may need reading support.
  • Offer scaffolded presentation templates for groups needing more guidance.

• Extension for High-Achieving Students:

  • Encourage deeper research into policy and ethical implications of their technology.
  • Challenge them to propose solutions to overcome current limitations of their technology.

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Teacher Reflection Post-Lesson

• Did students engage with the research process?
• Did presentations reflect a deep understanding or need more scaffolding?
• Was the debate productive in helping students think critically about healthcare tech ethics?

📌 Adjustments for Next Lesson: Ensure students make stronger real-world Australian connections. Consider providing pre-selected sources for those who struggle with research.