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2000-2001
2001-2002
* The Power of the Exponent
* A Treasure Lost
* Breathless
* Evolution: The Only Constant is Change
* Enzyme Activity and Computer Modeling
* Earth Fissures
* Aerobic Metabolism
* The Science of Survival
* Tailpipe Emissions
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2001-2002 SyRIS Science Module Collection
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| Module Title: |
| Breathless - A Respiratory Disease Outbreak |
| Faculty Team Members (Discipline): |
| John Holmes (Facilities Faculty), Jim Staples (Facilities Faculty), Reece Weide (Biology), and Yvonne Zeka (Mathematics) |
| College: |
| GateWay Community College |
| Student Group Targeted: |
| BIO 100, FAC 110/210, MAT 103, but the module could be adapted for other biology and math classes
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| How Will the SyRIS Goals Be Met? |
Interdisciplinary Component:
The problem centers on a serious respiratory disease contracted by passengers during a commercial airplane trip. Biology students are given information relating to the symptoms of the illness, but need to rely on the expertise of the facilities students to find the source of the disease-causing organism, which leads to the identification of the kind of organism that causes the disease. In turn, the identification of the disease-causing organism requires the facilities students to diagnose and correct the problem with the airliner's air conditioning system. Math students provide both the biology and facilities students with the appropriate mathematical tools and instruments needed in the course of their investigations.
Active Learning Strategies:
The classes collaborate in a problem-based learning format, including hypothesis generation, questioning and self-directed learning. The classes meet both separately and jointly to consider the problem.
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| Module Overview: |
Background:
Biology students as well as the public need to understand the differences among the major human disease agents - bacteria, viruses, and fungi - to foster an understanding of disease prevention and treatment. Microscopic examination and identification of pathogenic microorganisms require students to measure and compare their relative sizes using the metric system. Measurement of the numbers of organisms required to produce disease in healthy humans depends on an understanding of growth rates of the organisms as well as their concentrations present in the environment. Mathematical tools are necessary to determine and evaluate the importance of these parameters in the disease process.
Facilities students need to understand the importance of maintenance procedures and the consequences that may result from non-performance of these basic routines. Evaluation of the air conditioning systems included in this problem will require students to acquire and practice necessary mathematical skills and concepts. In addition, the aircraft air conditioning systems use a fundamentally different, environmentally friendly technology that is being investigated for its applicability to commercial building systems.
Intended Use:
This module is an addition to the current curriculum for the courses mentioned above. This topic enables: (1) biology students to differentiate among bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and to identify conditions under which they grow; (2) facilities students to identify and use proper methods of system maintenance and to appreciate the complexities of system operation; and (3) technical math students to identify and apply problem solving and computational strategies.
Potential Significance:
Our plan to develop and adapt relevant hands-on activities provides students with more concrete experiences with the concepts of microbial growth, identification, and control.
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| Module Objectives |
Facilities -- Students will be able to:
- List the four environmental conditions controlled by an air conditioning system.
- Describe the components and their function in a forced air system.
- Identify the variable properties of air using the psychrometric chart.
- Define the periodic and preventative maintenance procedures for central air handling systems.
- Locate and explain the function of components of specific unitary and central air conditioning systems.
- Define the periodic and preventative maintenance procedures for each component.
Mathematics -- Students will be able to:
- Construct complex line graphs from observed and theoretical data.
- Interpret and analyze data in constructed graphs and apply to systems analysis.
- Apply principles of measurement.
- Apply arithmetic operations in real numbers in solving applied problems.
- Evaluate using the English and/or metric system.
Biology -- Students will be able to:
- Describe and use the Scientific Method.
- Identify and describe the structure and functioning of cells.
- Differentiate between eukaryote and prokaryotes.
- Differentiate between viruses and other pathogenic microorganisms.
- Identify and describe the basic concepts of taxonomy and how they relate to the classification of all living things.
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| Module Materials: |
 see full record from Maricopa Learning eXchange (MLX)
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