Teaching Hurricane KatrinaTeaching Hurricane Katrina

Lois Ann ScheidtLois Ann Scheidt

AOIR Conference PresentationAOIR Conference Presentation

October 8, 2005October 8, 2005

The genus of the ideaThe genus of the idea

Overheard comments like the Overheard comments like the following said on campus:following said on campus:• ““Well if they are stupid enough to stay Well if they are stupid enough to stay

then they desire what they get.”then they desire what they get.”• ““I’m just a student I can’t help I don’t I’m just a student I can’t help I don’t

have money.”have money.”• ““Gosh I’m so glad I don’t live anywhere Gosh I’m so glad I don’t live anywhere

where anything like this could happen.”where anything like this could happen.”

Tying the disaster into Tying the disaster into students livesstudents lives

New Madrid FaultNew Madrid Fault

Last quake in 1811Last quake in 1811 Estimated intensity 7.5 or 8.0Estimated intensity 7.5 or 8.0 Expected at any timeExpected at any time Damage zones likely to extend from Damage zones likely to extend from

Oklahoma to Indiana.Oklahoma to Indiana. Estimates say that 2/3 of Memphis Estimates say that 2/3 of Memphis

could be destroyed.could be destroyed.

In class activity In class activity

Individual and then as a Individual and then as a Group of the WholeGroup of the Whole

What would you do?What would you do? Geologists have found Geologists have found

a way to accurately a way to accurately predict earthquakes predict earthquakes 24 hours in advance. 24 hours in advance. (Don’t we wish.)(Don’t we wish.)

List a minimum of 5 List a minimum of 5 things you would do things you would do before the predicted before the predicted time of the local time of the local earthquake.earthquake.

You have 5 minutes to You have 5 minutes to make your list.make your list.

What would that do?What would that do?

Roughly 10% said they would not Roughly 10% said they would not leave their homes.leave their homes.• Reasons includedReasons included

““Unless my house is going to be destroyed Unless my house is going to be destroyed specifically I’m staying.”specifically I’m staying.”

““The roads will be too busy so I’m staying The roads will be too busy so I’m staying home rather than being caught out in the home rather than being caught out in the open.”open.”

““Earthquakes don’t last that long so why Earthquakes don’t last that long so why leave?”leave?”

Those that said they would goThose that said they would go

Realized very quickly, as our to-do Realized very quickly, as our to-do list grew, that there was no way to list grew, that there was no way to get everything done before such a get everything done before such a deadline. deadline.

If they did try to do everything on If they did try to do everything on their lists they would be caught at their lists they would be caught at home and unable to leave.home and unable to leave.

Better to just go and pickup the Better to just go and pickup the pieces afterward.pieces afterward.

As Informaticists What As Informaticists What Responsibilities Do We Responsibilities Do We

Have in a Time of Disaster?Have in a Time of Disaster?

How can we help?How can we help?

SpecificallySpecifically

Bio InformaticsBio Informatics Chemical InformaticsChemical Informatics Health InformaticsHealth Informatics

• Medical ProfessionalMedical Professional Human Computer InteractionHuman Computer Interaction New MediaNew Media Social InformaticsSocial Informatics Any others?Any others?

Lab AssignmentLab Assignment

Volunteer to assist Hurricane Katrina Volunteer to assist Hurricane Katrina refugees and survivors.refugees and survivors.

OROR Review newspapers and news magazines Review newspapers and news magazines

(hardcopy or online) for three stories then (hardcopy or online) for three stories then write a short paper showing how your write a short paper showing how your current or future informatics skills could current or future informatics skills could help resolve the problems discussed in the help resolve the problems discussed in the articles.articles.

Lab resultsLab results

46 students in the class46 students in the class 36 completed the lab assignment36 completed the lab assignment

• 39% volunteered39% volunteered• 61% chose the paper option61% chose the paper option

Several commented that they had not Several commented that they had not thought about how they could use their skills thought about how they could use their skills to help others.to help others.

Lois Ann ScheidtLois Ann Scheidt

Email – Email – lscheidt@iupui.eduBlog – Professional-Lurker.comBlog – Professional-Lurker.com

Presentation – available through a Presentation – available through a keyword search on Professional-keyword search on Professional-

Lurker.comLurker.com