Using primary literature on SARS-CoV-2 to promote student learning about evolution.

ABSTRACT

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has caused widespread deaths, illnesses, and societal disruption. I describe here how I pivoted a discussion-based senior biology capstone course to include a multiweek module surrounding one primary literature paper on the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and the subsequent scientific discourse about the paper. Using a gradual reveal of the paper following the CREATE method (consider, read, elucidate, and think of the next experiment), I challenged students to learn new evolutionary principles and critically analyze the data surrounding the evolution and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 presented in the paper. I also provide general advice for implementing this module in future courses.