Yale Center for Teaching and Learning

What Makes a Pandemic?

Students participate in epidemiological simulations and consider mechanisms that lead to the spread of viruses in populations, both past and present.

Topic: Viruses and pandemics

Developer: Pat Schloss

Primary Learning Goals

  • Learn about pandemics that have occurred during the last century
  • Be able to discuss epidemiological issues using basic terms
  • Understand the factors involved in the persistence of a disease

Secondary Learning Goals

  • Be anxious to learn more about viruses and their treatment/prevention
  • Appreciate that events around the world affect them [students]

Diversity

Students will have small-group discussions at the beginning of class, which should elicit the responses of those students that will not volunteer answers in front of a classroom. Also, the teacher will ask the class what types of attitudes we might have to the initial sick person if we knew who they were.

Scientific Teaching Themes

The class will emphasize scientific approaches including data collection and visualization, discussion of case studies, and asking “what if?”-type questions.

The class will be taught scientifically by using carefully chosen assessment questions, allowing the students to take control of a second simulation, and by identifying the areas of confusion, which will be addressed in more detail during the second and third classes.

Active Learning

Students will engage in active learning while in small group discussions that start the class and during the flash card simulation.

Assessment

The teacher will be able to judge the caliber of students and their a priori knowledge in the initial discussion-oriented activity. Also, the in class worksheets and homework activity will measure class participation and ability to apply ideas to other situations.