This learning object is an online, multimedia introductory course to vaccinations. A historical background explains the eradication of smallpox by vaccination followed by a reading assignment on the history of smallpox. This is followed by a case study on polio with a discussion on the prospects of polio eradication by vaccination. A lecture on vaccination completes the instructional part of the course. At the end of the multimedia course, students will better understand how vaccines were developed and how they work, know the various modes and types of vaccination and vaccines, be informed of vaccine development and production methods, and better understand restrictions placed on successful vaccination.
Type of Material:
This learning resource is unit in an open course. The unit is an adapted extract from the Open University's course on Infectious disease.
Recommended Uses:
This material is a good review of the history and current state of vaccinations for students new to the topic. Some background in biological or biomedical sciences is recommended, but the material should also be accessible to freshman biology, pre-med, health sciences, and history students with an interest in the history of science or medicine.
Material may be very beneficial as primer on vaccination or as supplementary reading on the issue. Division and length of sections translate well to use as supplementary reading for different sections of biology or epidemiology courses.
Technical Requirements:
The technical requirements are online access with cookies enabled. Users can use browsers such as Firefox, Chrome, or IE. There is no flash content and the material can be used on an iPad with Safari browser. There is a printable version accessible.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The stated learning goals are:
Define and use, or recognize definitions and applications of, each of the terms printed in bold in the text;
Use examples from the history of vaccination to illustrate the conduct and outcomes of vaccine strategies to control infectious diseases;
Discuss the principle strategies available for developing a vaccine and explain the significance of critical antigens, immunogens and adjuvants in developing effective vaccines;
Identify examples of infectious diseases for which effective vaccines are available and some for which they are not. Explain why it has been scientifically difficult or commercially unprofitable to develop vaccines against certain infectious diseases, and why others have been amenable to control by vaccination;
Discuss the prospects for developing a vaccine against a named infectious disease, given information on its biology and epidemiology, and on the immune response in human hosts;
Discuss limitations on the efficacy of mass vaccination programmes, and illustrate interactions between the perceived threat of an infectious disease, the perceived risk of adverse outcomes from vaccination, the level of vaccine uptake, and the consequences for public health.
Target Student Population:
The target student population include upper level high school science students, university undergraduates studying biology, epidemiology, or related matter and graduate students needing primer or refresher on principles of vaccination.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
The learning prerequisites are basic knowledge of biological sciences, but the material is also understandable for an educated lay public.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
A well-done tutorial in the form of an online textbook with tables and graphical representations. There are questions inserted into the text which should be answered in short essay form, maybe with a brief paragraph. Upon contemplating a question, students can press a link to reveal the author's answer to the question. This is a nice feature and tends to re-emphasis major points in the presentation.
Concerns:
Content does not appear to be undergoing updating on a regular basis and does not seem scheduled for an update. However, it discusses vaccination from an historical perspective and therefore the content is valid.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Though lengthy as a whole, material is separated into clearly defined sections that enable readers to easily focus on topics relevant to their particular interests within the larger material. In-text question prompts are also very nice.
It is well done, with an easy to use outline on the left border allowing the reader to use hyperlinks to specific content.
Concerns:
None.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
It is very easy to use and requires only basic computer and internet skills.
Concerns:
None.
Creative Commons:
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