Modern improvements in diagnosis
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how and why diagnosis improved after 1900.
Key learning points
- Diagnosis in 1900 mainly depended upon the judgement of individual doctors.
- Laboratory testing became commonplace during the 20th century.
- New technologies have provided more detailed information to support diagnoses.
- Many technologies used for modern diagnosis remove the need for invasive procedures.
Keywords
Diagnosis - the process of saying what is wrong with someone who is sick
Invasive - in this context, medical treatments which involve cutting into the body
Common misconception
The use of technology in modern medicine means doctors aren't very involved in making diagnoses.
Technology can help patients to monitor some health conditions themselves but many technologies that help diagnosis require a doctor to operate them or to interpret the information they provide.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils why it would be so beneficial for modern medicine as a whole for diagnosis to improve in the ways it has since 1900. You may prompt pupils to think about treatments and the attitudes of ordinary people.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1. factors refer to the way that people live, including their diets and levels of exercise.
Q2.Who took the first photo of DNA in 1951?
Q3.Which diseases are smoking strongly associated with?
Q4. were first discovered in food during the 1910s, improving understanding of how diets can affect people's health.
Q5.What causes Down syndrome?
Q6.What did many medieval physicians study to diagnose their patient's illnesses?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Medical treatments which involve cutting into the body are described as .
Q2.What is at the end of an endoscope?
Q3.Which type of technology is typically used to try and identify broken bones in the body?
Q4.What type of test involves taking samples of flesh to help diagnose a patient?
Q5.Which statement is correct?
Q6.Who usually conducts MRI scans and interprets the information they provide?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Modern improvements in diagnosis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Modern improvements in diagnosis, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Medicine in Britain, c1250–present unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.