Ventilation testing of classrooms provides a ‘real life’ opportunity for student learning

24 VENTILATION TESTING OF CLASSROOMS PROVIDES A ‘REAL LIFE’ OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENT LEARNING

Prior to the return to face to face learning in Term 4, all of the rooms throughout PLC Sydney underwent ventilation testing to ensure a safe return to campus for staff and students.

Year 11 students Lilian Stock and Marina Ruan had the opportunity to learn and participate in the application of STEM outside of the classroom learning environment.

On Wednesday 13 October STEM Captain 2022, Marina Ruan and I, Environment and Sustainability Captain 2022, were able to learn the processes and help PLC Sydney’s lab technicians and maintenance staff do ventilation testing of two classrooms alongside Mrs Kate Cole. Mrs Cole is currently the Occupational Health and Hygiene Manager at NSW Transport, with background training in Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, she is also a parent of the school. Initially arriving at the school, we QR coded in and went through the Rapid Antigen Testing systems in place in Thompson Hall. We then headed up to the new science rooms to do a trial test of the classroom. Put simply, the testing included using dry ice, which sublimes to carbon dioxide, to “flood” the room. We would then open windows and doors and turn fans and air conditioning on and would monitor how long it took for the carbon dioxide to leave the room. With the help of Mr Heap, we filmed the process in order to communicate to other school students what was happening and how it would ensure that we stayed safe. This is an important element of science, not only running trials and experiments but finding ways to communicate information simply. Throughout the day we were able to ask Mrs Cole further questions and she explained subjects such as the importance of mask wearing coupled with good ventilation, how we can best wear our masks (ensure there is no gap on the sides by tying knots), how really small particles of vapour of our saliva are left in the air when just breathing that could contain harmful pathogens and, of course, the importance of learning science! Ultimately it was an enjoyable and engaging experience and I thank Mrs Emanuel, Mrs Chiba and Mrs McGrouther for allowing us to be involved.

Lilian Stock, Year 11

Environment and Sustainability Captain 2022 The carbon dioxide from the dry ice acts as a surrogate, or substitute, for airborne particles such as infectious Covid-19 particles. We breathe out carbon dioxide and therefore, a person infected with Covid-19 would breathe out carbon dioxide containing infectious particles. A classroom with good ventilation is able to quickly remove stale air and introduce fresh air, which helps to move any infectious particles out of the air we are breathing in. Good ventilation in a room helps reduce our risk of getting infected. By measuring how quickly the carbon dioxide leaves a classroom, the ventilation rate of that classroom can be determined. With this data, the school was able to make informed decisions around the school to protect us as we returned to face-to-face learning. This was a memorable and unique experience to be a part of, as well as an incredible opportunity to see STEM being applied in our everyday lives. While listening to Mrs Cole, we were able to gain a better understanding about the importance of STEM and the many different careers that are possible. Thank you to the maintenance team, lab technicians and Mr Welsh for carrying out these experiments around the school!

Marina Ruan, Year 11

STEM Captain 2022

Mrs Kate Cole (left) explains to Lilian Stock (centre) and Marina Ruan how the carbon dioxide from the dry ice acts as a or substitute, for airborne particles such as infectious Covid-19 particles.