Hosted by OSOS , contributed by pedro.lifeall on 29 February 2020
Unexpectedly, in the year 2020, a virus called Coronavirus appears in which it causes the respiratory syndrome called covid-19, there has been an increase in patients and deaths and pressure on health systems worldwide. The crisis, which extrapolates health problems, also shook the economy and redefined the priorities of government officials.
This Community Project for the Reuse of Material for Homemade Masks, for the prevention of Covid 19, was suggested to us by our Class Director, Pedro Valério, together with the organizers, the participation of all students in the 10th D class.
This activity has been created and adapted by Escola Secundária Ribeira Grande in the framework of the Islands Diversity of Science Education (2017-1-PT01-KA201-035919), co-financed by the Erasmus+ agency of the European Union).Erasmus + project.
How to simultaneously, help the local community and the environment, in time of Pandemic Covid 19?
Although the first cases of infection, translated into the form of pneumonia, were identified in fish market goers (Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market), new infections were quickly detected in non-fish market goers. It is not known, until today, whether the original source of these viruses is still active or not, but as in previous situations, it quickly became evident that this virus could be transmitted among infected humans. Nowadays it seems clear that this new coronavirus can be transmitted person-to-person by air (inside particles larger than 5 microns), by direct contact with infectious secretions or by aerosols in therapeutic procedures that produce them (less than 1 micron) ). The disease caused by the variation originating in China was officially named by the World Health Organization (WHO) as Covid-19, on February 11. It is not yet clear how the mutation occurred that allowed the new virus to emerge.
Other older variations of coronavirus, such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, are known to scientists. They also reached humans by contact with animals: cats, in the case of Sars, and dromedaries, in the Mers virus.
WHO issued the first alert for the disease on December 31, 2019, after Chinese authorities reported cases of a mysterious pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, a Chinese metropolis with 11 million inhabitants, the seventh largest city in China and number 42 in the world . The size is comparable to the city of São Paulo, which has more than 12 million inhabitants.
According to the World Health Organization, we can reflect on various statistical data.
The incubation period varies between 4-14 days, and it is too early to state that the virus is only transmitted by symptomatic individuals.
The virus transmission rate is 2.75, which means that an infected person transmits, on average, to another 2.75 individuals.
The disease has an overall lethality of 3.4%, increasing according to the age of the person affected and the comorbidities present.
Patients with chronic diseases, which represent around 25 to 50% of infected patients, have higher mortality rates.
Learning Objectives
1. Gather information about a Covid 19.
2. Brainstorm to resolve a material reuse.
3. Implement a solution found for recycling and reusing materials.
4. Share a solution with the local community.
The Community Project for the Reuse of Material for Homemade Masks, for the prevention of Covid 19: “Community and ecological masks, anti covid 19” intends that through the students' community work, to provide the community with homemade masks, starting from reused material.
Opportunities to collaborate with stakeholde
Based on this project, we established a partnership with the local community, starting from voluntary action, sharing social masks made by students, with their families, neighbors and others, always respecting the rules provided by the Regional Health Directorate of the Azores. After making the social masks at home, using pre-chosen and defined templates and plans, they were delivered to the people chosen by each student.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
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Quality Education
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4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development (…). |
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Responsible Consumption and Production
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12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. 12.5 By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse. 12.8 By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature |
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Responsible Research and Innovation
One of the key aspects of OSOS is the inclusion of RRI - Responsible Research and Innovation - principles (RRI-Tools.eu). This is how this accelerator fits in the RRI model:
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Governance |
This accelerator is based on a fundamental key point which is to teach students what science is and how to make a valid and respectful science research. It highlights the fact that science needs to be shared in order to be valid, it needs to be transparent and collaborative so as to contribute to the development of our society. In this project, students reflect with the community on the problem and will co-create possible solutions sharing, in the end, all their work, including their research process. Furthermore, students will share their results and conclusions with other communities worldwide and through the collaboration between their teachers. |
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Public engagement |
Students will interview their communities as well as important stakeholders, i.e., experts in the problem they are working on. After collecting their data, students will discuss with their parents, other family members, friends, community, etc, about possible effective and applicable solutions to the problem in their communities. The whole activity will focus on the engagement of students with their community so as to take into account their real needs when solving a problem. |
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Gender Equality
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The problematic involved in this project is transversal for all humans in the world, regardless of their gender. At no moment, the gender of the students will be asked or relevant. On the resources created for the teachers advise is given in order to provide equal opportunities, not only for both genders but also among all the different personalities. In the guidelines given to the students an effort is made to use both male and female role models as inspiration, as well as male and female icons and individuals in pictures. Teacher are also advised to find experts of all genders and invite them to work with their students. |
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Science Education |
Students will be engaged in Inquiry-Based activities that will lead them through the scientific method and reasoning. It is expected that after creating their projects, students will have understood what science is and how scientific knowledge can be obtained and communicated. By working with the community and sharing their work in the end, students will bring science education to their community as well as awareness for important scientific questions. |
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Ethics |
During the project students will understand that cooperating and collaborating is a much more valuable effort than competing, and that knowledge and good ideas should be used in an ethical way and shared with others. When in collaboration, Scientists can overcome nearly any obstacle and provide what is necessary for a safe, developing and growing society |
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Open Access |
After finishing their research, students will share all their work with the community, providing a fully open access to their data and conclusions. |
Feel
Students will investigate the causes and effects of covid 19 and collect all the data of the research done. After this, students will decide what kind masks they will create and how they will create. After deciding, the students will come up with sollutions and shared with the community.
1: Brainstorning about source, types and causes of Community Masks
Students will investigate about Community Masks, causes and consequences and should answer to questions like:
How does Community Masks affect human health and the prevent Covid 19?
Which is the origin of Pollution?
What kind of Pollution appears with consumption of more masks?
How do Covid 19 appear in the Community?
Why Community Masks will have a positive result in reducing pollution?
2. Investigation proposal to address such questions
In the middle of the 21st century, nothing predicted the situation in which we find ourselves. COVID-19 came to open society's eyes to several issues that have been addressed over the years with some concern, namely global warming, pollution, unemployment, hunger, among other environmental and social issues. It has not been easy to manage our new lifestyle, since fear is always present making us fear not only for ourselves, but also for our Loved Ones, who may or may not be in the so-called risk groups. However, there have been several measures imposed for self defense against the virus, with the most recent face mask and visors.
When the use of the mask and visors to defend against the virus is implemented, we are protecting ourselves and also protecting others, in the hope that we will be able to return to normal sooner, even if it is full of new measures. That said, we made (with the help of our family members) reusable masks and visors to offer to those closest to us, as a gesture of solidarity and support, reducing the pollution that these materials would cause, if they were disposable.
This initiative was carried out within the scope of the discipline of citizenship and development, within the themes of volunteering and sustainable development, with the aim of stressing that, more than ever, we need each other, since there are people who are passing for serious needs and small gestures they can make a difference.
We hope that we can all embrace again soon, that we can go out and explore our beloved island, that we can return to our school, without fear, and for that we have to respect the measures imposed, as they are important factors for the control of this disease, which even if they get a vaccine, will always exist and require certain precautions.
Material needed: fabrics, plastic, rubber bands, scissors, needle, threads, staples, stapler and paper or cloth filters.
Methodology:
1. Build the mold
a) Identification of the necessary material to use.
b) Create the mold of each mask.
c) The project were divide in 4 parts and groups:
• Feel • Imagine • Create • Share
This group start the project at Dezember 2019 and Finish at May 2020.
2. COMMUNITY SHARING
After the creating of the masks, students will gather, and share in the local community the result of the project. The results of the project should be represented using the comments of the school publication. (like we see above)
3. Collaborating with local community
Escola Secundária da Ribeira Grande, denomination that gives it Decree-Law nº 260-B / 75, of 26 May, in Diário da República, I Série, nº 121, currently the only Secondary Education Establishment in the Municipality, started its teaching activity on January 4, 1974, as Section of the Ponta Delgada Industrial and Commercial School in Ribeira Grande, on the initiative of Engineer Fernando Monteiro da Câmara Pereira, Mayor and with the high sponsorship of Dr. Aníbal Cymbron Barbosa, Director of Escola Mãe, having been installed on the first floor of building nº 59, Rua Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Freguesia da Conceição, where, at the time, the Municipal Library and a Recreation Center functioned.
The Escola Secundária da Ribeira Grande, in the course of its history, has been the target of successive curricular changes and schooling regimes, as well as the denomination, such as the Secondary School with the 3rd Cycle, until its current name which, despite being intended only to regular secondary education and professional courses, he also teaches the 3rd cycle of basic education, professional training courses (Profij), vocational training courses and several other alternatives of the special educational regime.
The Ribeira Grande Secondary School today has a school population of 1441 students, 74 classes, between daytime and nighttime, 158 teachers and 53 employees, requiring an increase in facilities for more effective management of teaching and extracurricular activity.
The project can be found here: https://esrg.edu.azores.gov.pt
Imagine
For years we have seen the planet on which we live deteriorate in the midst of so much pollution and marine pollution is one of the factors that contributes to this degradation. Nowadays, it is noteworthy, that the overwhelming majority of the population took as a habit, with regard to pollution, global warming, deforestation, ... thus affecting animals, plants and even ourselves.
It is important to reinforce and highlight the relevance and power that money gathers between us. Nowadays, consumerism and social networks contribute to our temporary happiness, for this reason, these addictions alienate families within our own home, thus making us lose much of what is happening around us, including what is happening. happens in our house ... all thanks to this silent addiction.
Unexpectedly, a virus appears, called as COVID-19. The pandemic of the new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory syndrome called covid-19, has been marked by the rapid spread of the virus, the increase in patients and deaths and pressure on health systems worldwide. The crisis, which extrapolates health problems, also shook the economy and redefined the priorities of government officials.
To avoid contamination, health authorities have recommended that the entire population constantly clean their hands and face. They also suggest the adoption of measures that radically change daily life, such as the withdrawal from collective activities, the use of masks / visors and seclusion at home, even for those who are not infected, especially those who belong to the risk group.
In short, this work carried out within the scope of the discipline of citizenship and development, we can say that in the face of this whole pandemic, the insignificance of humanity in the face of a whole world that belongs to nature is notorious, which we must protect and respect, all these recent events have shown us that it is necessary to strengthen our interpersonal ties ... not virtually, but, personally. We must, above all, be responsible and aware that everything we can enjoy and enjoy on our planet, must be done consciously and well thought out, because everything we practice before our world, is reflected in us, and in this way, our main objective was to create masks with a material that could be reused, so that in this way, we could protect and preserve all those we love (family / friends) and also protect OUR planet. With the spread of covid-19, there was still garbage in the sea, but this time with disposable masks. In Australia, for example, dozens of masks have been found at sea and on the beach. And in view of this situation and this project, the 10 ° D "imagined" some of the possible solutions: placing more waste bins throughout public places so that they can put on their masks and make appropriate masks (not disposable) and offer them to other people. These were some made by the students:
Create
Viruses capable of forming a pandemic have not been known for many years, but this year everything has changed. This year we have seen a new virus capable of killing millions of people, called the Coronavirus (covid-19), it first appeared in Wuhan, China on December 1, 2019.
In view of this situation, our group was responsible for creating some alternatives to prevent the disease from contracting. First, I begin by presenting its meaning, that is, the word create means to generate or give rise to some solution. With this, we reflected, and started to create protective masks, giving the following examples: fabric masks, using a piece of fabric and sewing two elastic threads at the ends. Paper masks, using a folded paper with the ends stretched by placing hair elastics on them and clamping them, you can also create masks with shredded cloths, cutting a part of the cloth, making holes in the sides of that part of the cloth, and after that put the elastics in them and make a knot, but all masks made on their own must have TNT filter, otherwise they don't protect anything, according to experts. You can also create visors with plastic, fabric elastics and glue. In short, by doing this at home, we reuse materials, that is, we reuse, since our world is not in a good environmental shape, we must start looking after this factor, reusing and recycling. We take the opportunity to show some of the examples of social masks that students made in this project:
Share
The students of this project have always wanted this action to protect the environment, to be proportional to the protection of people. In other words, it was a bilateral project, where the concern with the health of the community is complemented, but also the concern with the environment, recycling and reusing materials. Something they achieved and then shared with the local community. And I don't stop there, because we publish on our school's website and newspaper.
To avoid contamination, health authorities have recommended that the entire population constantly clean their hands and face. They also suggest the adoption of measures that radically change daily life, such as the withdrawal from collective activities, the use of masks / visors and seclusion at home, including for those who are not infected and, especially, those who belong to the risk group. indicates, to share is to share something; share, distribute and experience (the same feeling, experience, opinion, etc.); take part (in); to participate in); to share.
So, we challenge our creativity and our knowledge and we elaborate the masks / visors with recycled material, so that we recycle and also help each other, however, we went to the person's house, with great caution, that we were going to deliver the mask (neighbor, family, friends, etc.) by car or even on foot, according to the testimonies of the group, they were very happy, as some did not yet have masks to protect themselves. We also had the possibility to share our project on our school's website, in the school's newspaper, in a book and also on the OSOS project.
