Teaching Practical Microbiology with the NanobugsIn December, I was given opportunity to teach "practical microbiology-featuring the "nanobugs" in a variety of school and classroom settings. What a great reception I have received from teachers, professors and students. My granddaughter, Maisy, a second-grader at Calvert Elementary School in Lincoln insisted that her nana and her mother were willing and qualified to teach her classmates about handwashing and microbiology. At the invitation of Maisy's teacher, Mrs. Oehring, we taught hand hygiene and cough etiquette. The day before our visit the class had explored the nanobugs website and the students and the teacher fell in love with the nanobugs (that is the secret part of our mission: to entertain and educate people of all ages about practical microbiology for the purpose of infection prevention). The one hour we spent in the classroom with those second graders was really rewarding. They were so eager to learn about microbiology and most had already selected their favorite nanobug. I am continually surprised at which nanobugs kids choose as their favorites. We played the Hepatitis A 3-D video for them and watched with delight as they were entertained by the informative "rap" and begged to hear it "just one more time". The only thing more delightful was seeing the pride in Maisy's eyes as we delivered on her promise that her nana and mother would teach her classmates all about the nanobugs and microbiology. They seemed to love learning and repeating their new word - microbiology - I think it makes them feel smart. To reinforce their learning, we provided temporary tattoos for the students and static cling handwashing reminders (featuring Clostridium difficile) for mounting on the mirrors in the school restrooms.
Before the semester break in December, I also had the opportunity to lecture to collegiate biology students at Nebraska Wesleyan University here in Lincoln. My assignment as guest lecturer was to give a comprehensive introduction to microbiology in one class period. What fun it was to share the nanobugs with this audience, too! The professor gave the students a homework assignment to research 3 different microbes and complete an assignment sheet. The nanobugs website provided a good reference for the resourceful (or lazy) student and the 2-D
This entry was posted on January 7th, 2008 at 9:48 am. RSS
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Earlier in the month Hannah and I had attended the healthy living fair at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska. The nanobugs were a big hit there, too, especially with the students currently taking biology and the LPN students and pharmacy tech students who bought card collections to use as a novel study tool. I will be presenting a lecture - Practical Microbiology featuring the nanobugs - to the student body on that campus on January 22nd.
animation in the Menagerie probably helped the student retain the information as they experienced the "microbes with attitude". I kept thinking about my 1972 class at Drake University - Microbiology for Nurses - it was a long boring semester for me and I think I got a "C" in that class - mostly due to my aversion to the subject. And look at me now - promoting "practical microbiology" with my precious nanobugs and having a great time of it! I never would have thought........
