Abstract
Disease Ecology and Global Change Research for Science Education Track: Education Author(s): Rachel Loehman, Mike Plautz, Lisa Blank We present a model for developing spatial literacy and science content knowledge in grades 5-12 students through exploration of disease ecology and global climate change. Although the effects of global change on human health are not precisely quantified, researchers have hypothesized that changes in temperature, precipitation, land cover, and land use may severely increase the distribution and intensity of known diseases and cause the emergence of unknown pathogens. We developed a 10-day unit during which students identified risk factors for transmission of malaria and hantavirus pulmonary syndrome and used a GIS to identify geographic regions threatened by those diseases. Students developed spatial analytical tools, geography content knowledge, and a working understanding of disease ecology principles. The unit is developed as a flexible curriculum adaptable for a wide range of grade levels and provides a novel method for addressing the human dimensions of global climate change in science education. Rachel Loehman Numerical Terradynamic Simulation Group College of Forestry and Conservation, Univ. of Montana 3128 Spurgin Road Missoula , MT 59804 US Phone: 406-243-6219 Fax: 406-243-4510 E-mail: rachel@ntsg.umt.edu Mike Plautz Hellgate Middle School Science 2385 Flynn Lane Missoula , MT 59808 US Phone: 406-728-5626 E-mail: mplautz@hellgate.k12.mt.us Lisa Blank University of Montana Education Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education University of Montana Missoula , MT 59812 US Phone: 406-243-5304 E-mail: lisa.blank@mso.umt.edu |
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