A Case Study on Educational Software for Disease Education

Kate Carolan, Matthew Crossley, Martyn Amos and Joanna VerranManchester Metropolitan University

What is SimFection?

• Educational software aimed at 16-18 year olds

• Linked to GCE Biology A Level specifications

• Uses simulations to teach disease epidemiology

• Includes interactive quiz

• Supporting materials form a complete learning package

• To be used in schools but wide range of potential applications

Measles

Herd immunity

Mumps

Population movement from area of high vaccination

coverage to low

Influenza

High vs low infectivity

High vs low mortality rate

Smallpox

Ring vaccination

Case studies

Development of SimFection

Initial ResearchDevelopment of SimFection

Software

Development of learning materials

Focus group with

undergraduates

Finalisation of SimFection

Initial Trial Results

Biology GCE A Level students (n=36)

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive:

• 100% found SimFection informative

• 89% felt that they had learnt something new

• 83% enjoyed the interactive quiz

• 78% agreed that SimFection was a “good way to learn about infectious diseases”

Interviews with target

group

Development of an

attitudinal test

Full trials: Around 300 participants

Follow up trials Evaluation of

intervention

Future work

• Two trials with PCGE trainee Biology teachers (January and May 2015)

• Can SimFection be used to improve attitudes towards the value of vaccination?

Conclusion

• SimFection was well received by the target group

• Additional teaching tool in Biology lessons

• Helps increase engagement with infectious disease education

• Supports the use of simulation software in the classroom

• Potential as a health intervention?

• Goal is to improve attitudes towards vaccination in YA

• ‘Investment in the future’

Contact details

Kate Carolan: kate.carolan@stu.mmu.ac.uk

Twitter: KateCarolan1

Prof. Joanna Verran: j.verran@mmu.ac.uk

Prof. Martyn Amos: m.amos@mmu.ac.uk

Matthew Crossley: m.crossley@mmu.ac.uk

Monsters, Microbiology and Mathematics group

Twitter: MoMiMa