Cross-Course Public Health Project on Infectious Disease

The need for collaborative, public health education has never been more important. Students increasingly require necessary skills in effectively communicating critical information to the general public and in working strategically in interdisciplinary project development. Project-based learning is a dynamic pedagogical approach to accomplish these goals and develop powerful engagement among students and a motivation to learn. This presented project involves a collaboration between first-year Microbiology students and senior-year Public Health Nursing students. First-year students work in teams to analyze data and create public health education for an assigned infectious disease. The teams develop a brochure and a corresponding website for the public. Senior-year students offer critique and direction for improvement not only on the key messages but also on the appropriateness of the delivery for the audience. This project involves active learning, assessment skills, and inclusive teaching. In the era of COVID, this infectious disease project is timely, relevant, and student-centered. As the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated, multiple factors must be considered to create successful public health education campaigns. The authors discuss ideas to expand the project to address sociocultural group influence on decision-making. Primary Image: Collaboration: multiple people sit in silhouette at a table having a discussion. Thought bubbles above each person show a variety of symbols to suggest a diversity of ideas, knowledge, and perspectives.