Download syllabus_fall2012_Oakland Kicks Asthma

Public Health 98/198: American Lung Association’s Oakland Kicks Asthma
Fall 2012
1 Unit- P/NP - CCN# TBD
Lecture: Mondays 7PM-8PM, Location TBD
Course Facilitators
Wei Quan, Adelina Ailarov, Serena Ke, Charlene Lin, Jeffrey Tsai
Prerequisites
None.
Overview
Oakland Kicks Asthma is a student organization affiliated with the American Lung Association that has
been hosting asthma education classes in Oakland for the past ten years in an effort to address the
trend of increasing childhood asthma cases. This course will focus on expanding the students’
knowledge of asthma, other respiratory diseases, and lung health in general. It will also educate them
on related environmental justice issues as well as legislative policies that have impacted respiratory
health in United States. Using knowledge obtained in this course to teach asthmatic schoolchildren with
Oakland Kicks Asthma is recommended but is not mandatory.
Course Objectives
After completing this course, students will have learned about the following:
1. Asthma physiology and the associated environmental triggers.
2. Environmental justice implications of the current distribution of asthma.
3. Related lung disorders and their contributing factors.
4. Legislative action that has affected asthma rates in the U.S.
Course Structure
This class is a lecture-based course with mandatory readings to complement the class and optional
asthma-related teaching opportunities in the Oakland Unified School District to follow near the end of
the fall semester and throughout the spring semester.
Additional Materials
Links to necessary readings will be provided in advance and asthma curriculum books will be provided to
those interested in the hands-on teaching component by the American Lung Association.
Class Calendar
All readings will be accessible through BSpace, handed out during class, or emailed out prior to the class
they are required for. The readings should be completed by the date next to which they are listed.
Week
1
Date
August 27
Topic
Introduction to DeCal, Syllabus, and
Oakland Kicks Asthma
Readings
None
2
3
September 3
September 10
No Class – Academic Holiday
Importance of Asthma Management for
Individuals and Communities
Assign: Journal Entry #1 “What are your
experiences with asthma and what will
you like to learn by the end of the
course?”
4
September 17
5
September 24
6
October 1
Asthma Physiology – Warning Signs,
Symptoms, Medicines, Etc.
Journal Entry #1 DUE
Assign: Journal Entry #2 “Do you think it is
important to teach people about how
asthma works as oppose to just teaching
them how to administer the medicines?”
Environmental Causes and Triggers – Air
Quality, Home Environment, Etc.
Journal Entry #2 DUE
Environmental Justice &
Disproportionate Burdens – Part 1
None
- “Most States Don’t Make the
Grade on Asthma and Allergy
School Health” Sacramento Bee
(2011)
- “A Preliminary Investigation of
Asthma Mortality in Schools”
Journal of School Health (2005)
- “Kickin’ Asthma: School Based
Asthma Education in an Urban
Community.” Journal of School
Health (2008)
7
October 8
8
October 15
Environmental Justice &
Disproportionate Burdens – Part 2
Assign: Journal Entry #3 “ What strikes you
as the most surprising factor behind
disproportionate rates of asthma in
rural/suburban areas such as Oakland
compared to larger cities, and why?”
Other Respiratory Illnesses and Disorders
– Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD), Lung Cancer, etc.
Journal Entry #3 DUE
Assign: Journal Entry #4 “What do you
think is(are) the most important factor(s)
to be aware of for respiratory
illness/disorder prevention/treatment?”
- “Asthma and Air Pollution”
Natural Resources Defense
Council (2005)
- “Rethinking Race/Ethnicity,
Income, and Childhood Asthma:
Racial/Ethnic Disparities
Concentrated Among the Very
Poor” Public Health Reports (2005)
- "Breathless: Air Quality, Schools,
and Environmental Justice in
California." Policy Studies Journal
(2006)
- “Luchando por Aire: the Burden
of Asthma on Hispanics” American
Lung Association (2011)
None
9
October 22
10
October 29
Respiratory Diseases and Policy – Clean
Air Act, CA Air Resources Board, etc.
Journal Entry #4 DUE
Asthma and the Healthcare System
11
12
13
November 5
November 12
November 19
Group Presentation
No Class – Academic Holiday
Group Presentation
None
- “Costs of asthma in the United
States: 2002-2007” Journal of
Allergy and Clinical Immunology
(2011)
None
None
None
Assignments and Grading
Grades are pass/no pass and based on a straight scale. Students must receive a 70% or higher in order to
pass the class:
 Attendance 40%
Students are allowed a maximum of two unexcused absences.
 Writing Assignments: 60%
There are five total writing assignments: four journal entries and one final independent research
paper. The journal entries should be 300-400 words, double-spaced, and handed in to your
assigned facilitator prior to the start of class. The topics and due dates are listed on the Class
Calendar. Each journal entry will be graded on a 0 to 10 points scale, and consists 10% of your
overall grade. For the final independent research paper, it should be 400-500 words, doubledspaced, and handed into your assigned facilitator prior to the start of class. You will be able to
choose your own topic that reflects on one of the assigned readings throughout the semester,
as well as incorporate any outside sources at your leisure. If you do choose to reference any
outside sources, proper citations are required. Please see your facilitator or the course advisor if
you have any questions about citation. The research paper will be graded on a 0 to 20 points
scale, and consists 20% of your overall grade.
 Group Presentation
There is a final presentation that will require you to work in a group of 4 to 5 people assigned by
your facilitator. This final project is for you to reflect on concepts and new ideas you have
learned throughout the semester. The presentation should be 8 to 10 minutes and everyone in
your group must participate at some point. You will act as instructors for an asthma class, which
consists of your fellow classmates, and cover a topic about asthma (e.g., asthma physiology,
environmental policies, etc.). You will notify your facilitator the topic of your presentation a
week before your presentation. Note: you will not be graded upon for this assignment; it is
supposed to be a fun and engaging project for the end of the semester.
Course Policies
Attendance is required. Only two unexcused absences will be allowed, and with each subsequent
absence the student’s participation grade will drop 10%.
DSP
Students in the DSP program and in need of any accommodations should contact the course facilitators.
Feedback
Students will have the opportunity to provide feedback about the course on the last day of class. The
feedback form will consist of both multiple choice and short answer.
Important Drop Dates
---------------: Last day to drop or add courses without a fee.