germs

Scientists, Teachers and Teacher Educators Work Together to Combat the Spread of Infection

At the same time that the Coronavirus outbreak had just begun in China, the Society for Applied Microbiology was publishing an article called ‘A Germ’s Journey’ documenting how scientists , teachers and teacher educators worked together, sharing their knowledge freely world wide, to create a MESHguide knowledge map/research summary (www.meshguide.org) for teachers - to promote personal hygiene and cleanliness and stressing the importance of careful handwashing.

About this guide

The Germ's Journey MESH Guide reports on the use of interactive resources to teach children about microbiology, hand-hygiene and infection control. The guide demonstrates the need for education in this area, science for young children and how using an integrated interactive approach with specifically design educational resources can increase children's understanding in this topic area.

How to use this guide

Once you have read this guide you will be able to access the educational resources at www.germsjourney.com and apply  them in your setting as you see appropriate.  For further information on pedagogical strategies see the research paper, or in brief: we suggest you adopt an integrated interactive approach using the varied, specifically designed, resources (book, website games, colouring, glo-gel activity) in a carousel workshop.

Case studies

This study is under review in the Journal of Early Years Education, the study reports the findings of a mixed method research study (qualitative and quantitative) on the effectiveness of specifically developed learning resources and workshops on handwashing for children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) in the UK. The A Germ's Journey educational resources were developed to aid both young children's understanding and engagement with microbiology and hand-hygiene, currently there are limited learning resources that teach young children about the cause and effect of germs.

Online Communities

Areas for further research

Laundering to kill Germs: Microbiological Decontamination of Textiles

Dr Katie Laird | View as single page | Feedback/Impact
Laundering to kill Germs: Microbiological Decontamination of Textiles

Editor's Comments

Awareness of ways of minimising germ transfer is relevant to all.

Transferability

This research applies in all countries and is relevant to students as well as families and health care professionals.

Areas for further research

Minimising bacterial transfer in school settings is an under-researched area. The impact of home laundering of health care professionals’ uniforms is also an under-researched area.

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