You Can Equip the Next Generation of Outbreak Fighters Now
Are today’s youth prepared for the next outbreak?
Unfortunately, the harsh reality is that it’s not a matter of “if” but “when” another outbreak will strike. Society has yet to fully grasp the lessons from COVID-19, leaving us as vulnerable as ever. The responsibility to ensure we’re ready falls squarely on the shoulders of the next generation — today’s students. They are eager to make the world a better place and want to ensure we are better prepared for the next pandemic. But they don’t want to wait until graduation to effect change. Unfortunately, their current educational environment often lacks the tools and opportunities to do so effectively.
Enter Operation Outbreak (OO), a groundbreaking and interactive platform designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge they need to prepare for and respond to outbreaks.
By simulating an outbreak in real-time, OO engages students in a dynamic learning experience that covers infectious diseases, biology, and public health. It’s not just about teaching facts; it’s about fostering genuine engagement and understanding. At its core is a user-friendly mobile app that simulates the spread of a fictional pathogen through Bluetooth connections. This app works in harmony with a series of carefully designed activities that mirror the complexities of a real health emergency. Students take on roles that involve navigating social and economic interactions, governmental responses, and scientific investigations.
To date, OO has impacted thousands of students in schools across the United States and beyond, with its popularity continuing to grow.
Lisa Currie, a seasoned administrator and former assistant head of school at Sarasota Military Academy, has marveled at how OO impacts young people, saying,
“I’ve had the privilege to witness the evolution of OO and the impact experiential learning has on young people. The mobile app places all participants in the driver’s seat and allows for an ownership of their learning which extends far beyond the classroom. This unique simulation event is an iteration of cross-disciplinary ideas and actions, fostering a multi-faceted skill set that participants continuously employ throughout their lives.”
Nichole Kellerman, who taught science at Walter Johnson High School, attests to the real-world applicability of OO, stating,
“[my students] engaged in a real-world application of all the Biology Forensic and investigative techniques we were learning about in class.” She continues, “Our school investigated an MRSA outbreak in 3 hours but left with a much better understanding of contract tracing, the benefits of PPE, and how finances affect some people’s ability to survive an epidemic. The Forensic Students were then given an opportunity to see the spread of the pathogen in a computer simulation [Outbreak Visualizer] and to analyze how well our school performed during this task.”
OO is about more than just education; it’s about fostering genuine engagement and understanding around a salient cross-cutting topic of infectious disease outbreaks.
For teachers and school administrators, OO offers an extraordinary opportunity for experiential learning that not only sparks interest in STEAM subjects but also aligns seamlessly with school curriculums. It can be adapted to meet unique learning objectives, needs, and contexts, as it has been developed by a team of experts from the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in partnership with educators, ensuring academic rigor and reliability.
OO offers two simulation experience levels to suit your group’s needs:
Level 1 (Basic): Provides a lighter introduction to outbreak management that can fit into ongoing classroom activities. Engage optional QR codes to mimic the effects of vaccines, tests, and masks.
Level 2 (Advanced): Immerses participants in a role-playing scenario, allowing them to take on real-world roles within the General Population or Work Units (e.g., Government Officials, Healthcare Workers, Reporters, etc.).
Explore the different components of OO:
Outbreak Creator: Get started here. Use this tool to customize and initiate your own Outbreak.
Outbreak Lookout (Level 2 / Advanced only): Collaborate in real-time outbreak management.
Outbreak Visualizer: Visualize the impact of your actions during the simulation through this post-simulation summary tool.
For a visual glimpse of OO in action, check out our website, where you can witness the potential of OO to transform the classroom. You don’t need to be a tech wizard to run this program: implementing OO in your school is a straightforward process. It’s designed to be user-friendly and compatible with the devices and platforms you and your students already use.
Check out this Getting Started guide on how to create your own simulation.
OO is not limited to the classroom; it can be a transformative learning experience in various settings, including workplaces, public health departments (for workforce training), universities, and more.
If you’d like to learn how OO can best serve your institution or have any questions, whether big or small, please don’t hesitate to contact us at welcome@operationoutbreak.org.
Operation Outbreak was developed and is maintained by a multi-institution team based at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (Sabeti Lab), The Inspire Project, and The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (Colubri Lab), with generous support from our funding partners: The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, The Rockefeller Foundation in collaboration with Dalberg Catalyst, and The Burroughs Wellcome Fund.
