West Nile: What’s up with that?

Grade Level: 9 – 12

Academic Areas: Science

Duration of service: Year-long

Character Virtues: Giving, Responsibility, Civic virtue and Citizenship

Technology: GIS, GPS, Remote Sensing

Service Areas: Education/Tutoring, Environmental, Human Services, Public Safety, Homeland Security

 

Service Learning Project:

In the West Nile Virus Project (WNVP), students will use GIT to gather, manipulate, interpret, and present information to help increase community awareness and safety regarding West Nile Virus.  In addition to learning about WNV in their local community, students will also learn about worldwide issues surrounding the transmission of other diseases.  Students will collect the locations of potential insect-breeding sites as waypoints using GPS units.  They will then import them into a prepared orthographic aerial photo map of the community using ArcView.  They will use this information to create an informative flyer and website to educate the community about detection and prevention of West Nile Virus.  Students will reflect on their work throughout the project by creating a video journal that focuses on citizenship, giving, and responsibility.

Goals and Objectives

Academic

Learning Goal: Students will be able to collect and compile data to be presented in an educational flyer.

Standard: Math, Science and Technology

      4.  Science -- Students will understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment and recognize the historical development of ideas in science.

 

Learning Goal: Students will be able to impact the community through the use of GIT.

Standard: Math, Science and Technology

      5.  Technology -- Students will apply technological knowledge and skills to design, construct, use, and evaluate products and systems to satisfy human and environmental needs.

 

Service

Community need: Greater awareness and prevention of West Nile Virus

Possible Community Partners:  Public Health Dept., Parks and Recreation, Fish and

          Wildlife

 

Objective: Raise community awareness of WNV and therefore help prevent infections.

Objective: Offer solutions to identify and control potential mosquito breeding sites.

 

Technology

Learning Goal: Using GIT, students will record the location of potential mosquito breeding grounds in the community.

Objective: Students will learn how to record waypoints on GPS systems.

 

Learning Goal: Using GIT, students will create a map for an informative flyer.

Objective: Students will learn to download waypoints onto a map using ArcView.

 

Character

Virtue: Citizenship, Giving

Objective: Students will develop personal characteristics that improve the quality of their neighborhood or community.  This will be accomplished through the interaction of the students with the community and by providing the neighborhood with information that immediately improves the quality of the vicinity.

 

Virtue: Responsibility

Objective: Students will gain a sense of responsibility through timely updates of the class website, careful use and maintenance of GPS units, and effective dissemination of information to the public.

 

Key Activities

Key Planning Activities

  1. Teachers will instruct students on the use of GPS/GIS technology using the tutorial provided by the CORSE conference. 
  2. Students will complete GIT exercises in modules.
  3. Students will compile base maps for the study area (set projections appropriately). 
  4. Students will collect CDC data on West Nile Virus incidents in bird, horse, human, and mosquito populations for the study area.  This may involve contacting the CDC or other public health agencies.
  5. Students will be introduced to the concept of transmissible diseases (vectors and pathogens).

 

Key Service Activities

  1. Students will collect and compile spatial reference data on potential and existing mosquito breeding habitat using GPS technology and waypoint markers. 
  2. Students will construct a website presenting information about the study and West Nile Virus in general.
  3. Students will create and distribute a flyer.  The educational flyer will include a local map (made with ArcView) showing information on mosquito-born pathogens (specifically WNV), potential mosquito breeding areas, instructions on identifying breeding habitats, instructions on mosquito-proofing their neighborhood, and a reference to the student-generated web page.

Key Reflection Activities

1.      As a pre-assessment, students will conduct a group discussion and compile a list of the information they know about WNV and other pathogens.

(oral and written, responsibility)

2.      Students will maintain a personal video journal for recording ideas, sentiments, pictures, and poems that come from deep in their hearts.

(performance and oral, responsibility and giving)

3.      The instructor will host a discussion with students and community leaders about community responsibility and personal accountability with regard to both public health and environmental issues.   (oral, responsibility)

Celebration Activity

Students will host a “Beat the Bite” party at which they demonstrate ways to prevent mosquito breeding in their areas in addition to enjoying delicious “bites” of food.  Parents, community members, local government officials, and school administrators will be invited to join the party.