CARMIEL, Israel—It sounds like something out of a science-fiction thriller: Human remains are recycled as the outer shells for robotic security guards. But is the idea even possible? Ninth- and tenth-grade cybernetics students at ORT Horovitz School in this small community examined the possibility from a variety of perspectives, including the scientific, technical, and ethical.

For an interdisciplinary dilemma like this one, students found the Internet to be an ideal resource. Students conducted Web quests to investigate everything from how the ancient Pharaohs embalmed mummies to the intricacies of designing robots. They researched artificial intelligence, read articles by researchers, and studied taxidermy on both the practical and ethical levels. Before they were through, students consulted with electronic and mechanical engineers, a taxidermist, and a philosopher. Many were shocked to find a Web site that showed embalmed humans wearing clothing. Says teacher Shmulik Cohen, "It brought the ethical dilemma into sharper focus."

Indeed, students discovered that the technical difficulties of building such a robot, while challenging, might be the easiest step. As Cohen explains, "Some of the students evaded the ethical questions and dealt with other, easier questions such as what is a robot, the laws of cybernetics, and the uses of technology." At the end of their research project, students shared their views and discoveries using electronic presentations.

ORT Horovitz High is a 6-year comprehensive secondary school enrolling about 1,400 students in grades 7 through 12. Most speak Hebrew. Students choose from study tracks in art, technology, electronics, computer enrichment studies, and the humanities, as well as science enrichment studies in biology, chemistry, and physics.

The robotics program, developed by Cohen and teacher Giora Raviv, involved four study groups of students in the computer-aided design (CAD) track. Cohen says, "Some are computer literate and some are not." The school has four computer labs with Internet access. The award-winning teacher has been teaching CAD for 28 years.