"Outbreak" is a simulation that uses the concept of infectious disease to allow students to analyze data, formulate relevant questions, and test/revise hypotheses. Students are presented with a scenario and provided data to analyze. They must use critical analysis and inquiry-based thinking to solve the case of a possible outbreak.

In the scenario, the causative agent is unknown. It is not known if the "disease" is contagious or due to environmental factors. Teachers and students play the part of agents representing the Center for Disease Control. It is up to the class to analyze existing facts and data and ask the pertinent questions that will allow investigation to proceed to hypothesis, hypothesis-testing, and diagnosis so that the outbreak can be controlled.

During the exercise, students will become acquainted with current science and technology (PCR, electron microscopy, electrophoresis, cell culture), as well as problem solving techniques.

electron microscopy	gel electrophoresis	cell culture

Prior to spending the day at Pitt for this exercise, the teacher will guide students through a pre-lab activity that introduces them to the problem at hand and initiates their critical thinking. The following is an example question and some possible answers:

Question 1: Before considering a course of action, what other questions might you ask the Chief of Staff? Examples: What is the suspected diagnosis? Does this appear to be a new disease or an old one that has now reached epidemic proportions? Why is the condition suspected to be contagious? Have any health care worker contracted the disease – how many? Have lab tests been done to rule out known agents? What treatments have been tried? To what effect?

Once on-site, the students will step into the scenario. They will be greeted as CDC field agents by "Panther Hospital" chief of staff and briefed on the status of the situation.

Next, the students will proceed through four laboratory rotations during which they will collect and analyze data, and interpret results in the context of the possible outbreak.

Finally students will be asked to determine the cause of the illness and provide treatment recommendations.

Outbreak Tools:

Virtual EM

The "Virtual Electron Microscope" is a flash based web application that simulates an transmission electron microscope.