An Environmental Microbiology Classroom For Hygienic Awareness Among High School Students

Microbial contamination of the classroom environment is a worry since it can create a variety of health problems and negatively impact kids' and teachers’ general well-being. To increase awareness of personal hygiene during a pandemic and post-pandemic, students can reveal to themselves the true state of their body parts, clothing and surrounding conditions that are exposed to the breeding of germs. Thus, an environmental microbiology classroom has been conducted with Biotechnology Club high school students for a screening of microbial growth and contaminations on students’ body parts, attire, and school’s selected area. Swabbing method of students’ hands, collar of the shirt (boys) and scarf (girls) and doorknob (classes, laboratory, toilet & management office) was carried out and subsequently swabbing onto the nutrient agar (NA) plate for microorganisms’ growth. After 24 hours incubation, the colonies of the growing microorganisms were observed, and their number of different colonies were counted. Through this experiment, it is suggested that the students can observe themselves how dirty their hands, clothes and even selected areas like doorknob can cause the spread of the microbial infections if not cleaned regularly. Several hygienic practices, mitigation activities and awareness were suggested to the students in preventing the spread of microbial infection by handing out pocket posters for students to read and paste in rooms or classes.