Article title

An Educational Innovation for Teaching About the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD)

Study focuses on the following scientific concepts

Sexually transmitted diseases

Grade Level/s (focus on Grades 6 – 9)

Secondary level

Activities/interventions used in the study to foster learning or conceptual change

The focus of this article is to teach students STDs through problem solving and decision making. The process is based on a system called the Adoption Process (Rogers' Diffusion of an Innovation). The process involves five stages as outlined below:

1.  Awareness Stage: Students are introduced to the problem of STDs through a variety of classroom activities, including:

• Photographs of people affected with STDs
• Brochures about STDs
• Videos about STDs
• Visit to clinic
• Visit by school nurse or other health care provider

2. Interest Stage: Once students are engaged, the students begin research on STDs.  Classroom activities could include:

• The use of questions that are centered on topics covered in Stage 1 (awareness stage).
• Small groups conduct research on specific areas of interest. Each group reports their findings to the class (or do a jigsaw activity).
• Teacher can provide educational materials for further research.
• Individual research projects

3. Evaluation Stage: Class discussion on students’ findings and learnings, followed by small group discussions that could focus on:

• Patterns of behaviour amongst people that have contracted an STD
• Reasons for contracting STDs
• Consequences of contracting STDs
• Reasons for not contracting an STD.
• Making a checklist of behaviours that contribute to contracting or not contracting STDs

4. Trial Stage: Students use information gathered to apply to themselves in possible future situations. Classroom activities could include role-playing of possible scenarios.  The focus should be on consequences and problems concerned with STDs. Possible role-plays include:

• Visiting a doctor because you have an STD.
• Telling your parents that you have an STD.
• Telling your boyfriend/girlfriend that you have an STD.
• Discuss how you felt when your boyfriend/girlfriend told you she/he has an STD.
• Describe your feelings when your doctor tells you that your baby has an STD.
• Describe your feelings when your best friend informs you that s/he has an STD.

5. Adoption Process: Students consolidate their learning by developing a Plan for Problem Solving.  This involves creating a table with the following headings:

Citation

Cohen, S. J. (1978). An Educational Innovation for Teaching About the Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD). Clearing House.