Open Schooling to raise student awareness and engagement: the case of tackling Antimicrobial Resistance

This case study reports on the effectiveness of an open-schooling educational intervention on students’ awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the use of antibiotics. Framed within the Design-Based Research paradigm, this study enacted an open-schooling Teaching-Learning Sequence targeting 86 students (13–14 years old) through a partnership between the school and AMR experts. Data collection included a pre-and post-intervention validated questionnaire and interviews with students, teachers, and experts. Quantitative data were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, while qualitative data were analysed using open coding, employing inductive and deductive approaches. The findings indicated significant improvements in students’ knowledge of microbes, infection spread and prevention, antibiotic use, and AMR. Qualitative insights highlighted effective elements of the intervention: (a) active, hands-on experiences with scientific equipment in authentic contexts; (b) sustained interaction and informal discussions with AMR experts, allowing a deeper engagement with AMR and related careers; (c) understanding AMR’s societal and environmental dimensions; and (d) community outreach, empowering students as knowledge multipliers. This study provides practical recommendations for curriculum design and open schooling practices, enhancing the relevance and engagement of biology and general science education, while contributing to broader societal awareness and action on crucial societal challenges such as AMR.