To register for the Responding to Ebola study, please follow the link below:
To get more information about the study, please continue reading.
Responding to Ebola
Although the spread of Ebola in the United States is unlikely, a quick review of recent news headlines suggests an epidemic of misinformation. A substantial proportion of the population holds beliefs about Ebola that are not based on scientific evidence. With over 100,000 schools, 3 million teachers (over 1 million of whom teach science), and 50 million students, the U.S. has a potentially effective and efficient means for conveying accurate information about Ebola—what the disease is, how it spreads, and how to prevent it from spreading. The concern over Ebola in the U.S. will almost certainly pass, but similar events are inevitable. We have a narrow window of opportunity to study a critically important phenomenon—how teachers, in particular science teachers, respond when urgent, science-related issues emerge.
Study Participation
All K–12 teachers of science are strongly encouraged to participate, whether they have taught about Ebola or not. District and state supervisors of science are also strongly encouraged to participate. Participants will initially complete a brief online registration. They will later be asked to complete a brief, online questionnaire addressing the study research questions (see below). All respondents will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 10, $100 cash prizes. Study registration will begin in April; survey administration will begin in May.
Focus of the Study
Horizon Research, Inc., in partnership with the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA), and the Council of State Science Supervisors (CSSS), is conducting the study to address the following questions:
- How do teachers adapt their teaching when science-related issues like Ebola emerge, whether the issue is part of their curriculum or not?
- What factors shape teachers’ response when such issues emerge?
- What do K–12 science teachers know about Ebola?
- Where do K–12 science teachers get their information about Ebola, and what types of resources do they find most useful?
Importance of the Responding to Ebola Study
Public response to Ebola in the U.S. has been vastly out of proportion to the risk it poses. Urgent science-related issues like Ebola will continue to emerge, and teachers of science are uniquely positioned stop the spread of misinformation. The Responding to Ebola study will generate important knowledge about how teachers respond in such situations. This knowledge can change how a nation responds, mobilizing a force of over one million science teachers to ensure that the response is based on scientific evidence.
Follow the appropriate link at the top of this page to register for the Responding to Ebola study.