Preparing for Pandemics: Lesson Plan Design for Elementary-Aged Children

CP1 - Preparing for Pandemics: Lesson Plan Design for Elementary-Aged Children

Poster Type: Research

Track/Topic: A. T. Still University;Patient and Community Engagment

Research Objectives: The purpose of this project was to implement education-based interventions via distanced learning about infectious diseases and pandemics to elementary-aged children. We aimed to evaluate the success of the online distribution and ultimately contribute to increased health knowledge.

Research Study Design/Methods: Our four-week program of weekly lessons was provided to 61 fifth-grade students. Each lesson included a 10–15-minute recorded instructional video and pre-quiz to be completed on Mondays, a 1-hour live, online, interactive session on Wednesdays, and a post-quiz completed on Fridays. Topics included: 1) basic understanding of microbes, 2) how germs spread, 3) preventing and treating disease, and 4) specifics of COVID-19. The students also completed surveys before and after the program to evaluate knowledge integration. Both surveys and all pre-post quizzes were sent and collected via the school’s online portal.

Research Principal Findings and Quantitative/Qualitative Results: Overall, response rates varied, but an increase in correct responses on post-quizzes was found, demonstrating engagement and an increased understanding of topics. The response rates for the weekly pre vs post-quizzes are as follows: 56 vs 40 responses; 54 vs 49; 46 vs 39; 43 vs 39. Despite online curriculum delivery and distractions of learning at home, students seemed engaged during live sessions. Further analysis is being done to determine which topics the students learned most about and how confident they feel in their knowledge of infectious disease after the lessons.

Research Conclusions on Impact on Health Centers: These results suggest that interactive, evidence-based lesson plans help fifth grade students learn about infectious disease and related subjects. Although it was difficult to maintain the same response rate in the weekly quizzes and focused participation during the virtual lesson, engaging activities during the live sessions held students’ attention and improved their understanding in these areas. This can provide children with greater confidence on how to navigate pandemics or similar scenarios in the future. This project design may also be adapted to other grade levels at schools across the country to promote awareness about pandemics or other global issues.

Authors:

Roxana Nouri-Nikbakht, MA, ATSU SOMA

Benjamin Finch, ATSU SOMA

Brittany Vaughn-Pierce, ATSU SOMA

Addison Hill, ATSU SOMA

Saleem Choudry, ATSU SOMA

Erin Herbert, ATSU SOMA

Sean Hollebeck, ATSU SOMA

Issa Ismail, ATSU SOMA

Daniella Rivera, ATSU SOMA

Zachery Sanders, ATSU SOMA

Steve Sainbayar, ATSU SOMA

Mark Sivakoff, MD, ATSU SOMA

Bradley Meek, MD, ATSU SOMA

Kate Whelihan, MPH, CPH, COPC and Public Health Research Specialist, Department of Public Health, A T Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Joy H. Lewis, DO, PhD, FACP, Professor, Medicine and Public Health Chair, SOMA Dept. of Public Health, A T Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine