CDC Module

"Disease Detectives -- teaching epidemiology in High Schools"

Schedule:

Outline:

1. What is Epidemiology and Why teach it in highschools.

The science of disease detectives including causal reasoning, the application of the scientific method, problem-solving, principles of biostatistics, epidemiology and outbreak investigation.

2. A case study: Legionnaire's Disease in a Community.

Especially developed for high school use, this case study illustrates the didactic principles with a (real-life) outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease. The microbiology of the disease, principles of disease movement through a community, possible etiologic agents, and prevention activities are explored through the pedagogical mechanism of a case study. Used routinely in CDC's Epidemic Intelligence Service Program, this case study has been field tested in the Georgia Governors' Honors Program (science majors), and several Georgia High Schools. The Georgia Science Olympiad has included "The Disease Detectives" as a trial event this year, with a proposal for inclusion as a national event in 1999. Teachers will be led through the case study in this session.

3. Panel discussion: Techniques for integrating Epidemiology in the High School Curriculum.

Panel members: Evern Williams (Jasper County Community High School), Mark Kaelin (Montclair State University), Donna Stroup (CDC), Rick Goodman (CDC).

Mr. Williams, Science Chair of the Georgia Governor's Honors program will present his experience integrating epidemiology into many aspects of the curriculum. Dr. Kaelin has included 'Disease Detectives' as part of a summer workshop for Science Teachers in New Jersey. In this session, we will present other resources for teachers available from CDC on the internet and gain participant feedback on the specific web site for teachers.

References:

• Epidemiology teaching materials
• Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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