We at the ABE Program Office want to support teachers and students during these extraordinary times. For those teachers who are switching to or exploring online learning and for students who wish to continue their science learning, we have developed a set of tips and resources. We hope that these resources and recommendations will be helpful to you all as you navigate this new learning environment.
Background
It is crucial to first understand the reasons for these changes. COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. The virus responsible for this outbreak, SARS-CoV-2, has been detected on all continents (except Antarctica) and efforts have turned to “flattening the curve” of infection—in other words, keeping the rate at which people are infected low so that healthcare systems are not overwhelmed.
To do so, people are being asked to practice “social distancing.” This means that people should stay home as much as possible, avoiding public gatherings and crowds as best they can. When you must go out, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends staying 6-10 feet away from other people. For more information, see the CDC recommendations for how to prepare for COVID-19. One of the most important takeaways from the guidance of professionals is to protect people who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19: people over 60 and those with underlying health conditions.
Resources to Teach Students About COVID-19
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Check out this Coronavirus Pathway from LabXchange, which covers the origins of the current COVID-19 outbreak, reviews viral life cycles in detail, includes an interactive diagnosis assignment, and more.
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Learn about infectious disease on EDC’s Exploring Infectious Diseases website. The site contains information and assignments that explore what infectious diseases are, the epidemiology of disease, how viruses work, and the prevention and treatment of epidemics.
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You can find more suggestions for COVID-19 resources in this online spreadsheet that we have curated.
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Please share other resources that you find with us by sending to ABEInfo@edc.org.
Other Recent ABE Resources from the Program Office
- Blog Post: Transitioning to Online Science Learning | Part 1: Preparing Yourself for Online Instruction
- Blog Post: Transitioning to Online Science Learning | Part 2: Planning Your Online Instruction
- Blog Post: Technology for Online Learning
- Blog Post: Resources for Online Biosciences Learning
- Blog Post: Spikes on Novel Coronavirus Give Researchers a Head Start in Vaccine Development
- Spreadsheet: COVID-19 Resources for ABE Teachers (Suggest resources by emailing the ABE Program Office using THIS link: ABEInfo@edc.org)
- Spreadsheet: Online Biosciences Teaching Resources (Suggest resources by emailing the ABE Program Office using THIS link: ABEInfo@edc.org)