Overview
The lesson, Creating Change, is designed to illustrate the concept of infection and assist you in understanding the short and long-term impact it can have on a population. In most cases, infection is presented in the context of disease. However, as diseases spread, so can ideas, emotions and skills. By looking at countries that have experienced recent conflicts, you will consider positive ways to influence these countries using the Infection Model. The objective is to affect 80% of the population with an idea or plan that will enhance the people of that area and do it within a five-year period. You will manipulate variables such as the number of contacts and the infection rate to achieve this goal. In the process, you will complete think sheets that will assist you in reflecting on the process. Afterwards, will then write a paper, explaining the plan you developed.

Concepts
You will be introduced to several concepts as you go through this simulation.
You will experientially explore the concept of infection using a generic structure, and you will work with stock flow diagrams and STELLA, a computer-modeling program.

A generic structure (such as the infection model) is an organization that exhibits a common and reoccurring behavior. Because it is found in so many examples of everyday life, the concept is transferable to other situations.
Effects of the infection model are all around us. Developing an understanding of this generic structure can increase your ability to comprehend the world around you. Harnessing the power of this model can assist you in creating change in your community.

Stock Flow Diagrams/Computer Modeling provides a visual representation between factors in a system. These symbols, or icons when supported with mathematical relationships, can „mimic‰ the projected behavior of a system and allow students to see, in a condensed time period the results of interactions that might not be observed through any other means.
Graphic organizers or visual representations support students‚ understanding of what is occurring beneath the obvious.

Lesson Objectives
· Describe short and long term consequences of alternate courses of action
· Explain multiple causes of a single event
· Expository Writing (writing a plan or procedure)
· Convey clear focused main ideas with accurate and relevant supporting details appropriate to audience and purpose.

Goals
Explain the short and long term consequences of the infection, and how it could impact the people of this country. Use a fact from your article to illustrate a need for this change.
List three possible results of this infection and make a connection between these results and the condition of the people.
Give examples of specific actions you would take to address contacts and affect the power or rate of infection.
Write a paragraph for each of the above goals.