Disease and Society (SAS 13) is a high-enrollment (300–500 students)
general education course that provides a broad introduction to the
science of disease and its impact on individuals and societies. Many of
the diseases covered in the course are globally significant yet rare in
the United States, or are rare diseases more generally. As a result,
many students may lack personal experience or contextual understanding
of these illnesses, limiting their ability to grasp the human dimensions
of disease. This ongoing project aims to enhance student learning by
helping students to develop and practice cognitive empathy—the ability
to adopt another’s perspective and understand their beliefs, emotions,
and thoughts. Research suggests that engaging cognitive empathy can
improve memory and promote deeper learning in scientific disciplines. To
support the development of cognitive empathy, I have incorporated two
components into the course.
One of these components is
Canvas-based assignments called “Personal Story Response” assignments,
in which students watch short videos in which individuals living with
diseases previously discussed in class talk about their experiences.
Students then respond to questions designed to facilitate
perspective-taking alongside science content-specific questions to
reinforce scientific understanding. The second of these components is
incorporation of in-class demonstrations and object-based learning,
where items used in the prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of featured
diseases are introduced and discussed. These activities aim to deepen
student immersion and enhance conceptual understanding by connecting
abstract content to tangible experiences. Success and challenges in the
implementation of these components, student feedback, and future
directions will be shared and discussed.
