Microbiology is a very content-dense course at the undergraduate level. Students are introduced to the fundamental principles of microbiology and the impact microbes have on human health. Several topics focused on microbe metabolism, morphology, growth, and control are covered. Students often have difficulty applying the knowledge gained in the course to the real world. To engage students and help them to broaden their critical thinking skills, fictional movies about microbes were used in this 200-level course. Students were given a list of movies to choose from, in which a microbe is key to the plot of the movie. This list of movies is Andromeda Strain, Contagion, Outbreak, Mission Impossible II, I am Legend and 12 Monkeys. Students are put into groups based on movie choice. At the end of the semester-long microbiology course, each group gives a class presentation. They must draw from what they have learned in the course to: 1) identify the microbe and its role in the movie, 2) discuss the plot and determine the likelihood of the scenario in the movie occurring, and 3) discuss their reaction to the movie. Originality of presentations is encouraged. Some students have made newscast presentations, performed skits, made movie trailers or created games for the class to play. After completing the assignment, all students stated that microbiology helped them to understand the feasibility of the plot; 90% reported that this project helped apply knowledge to their everyday lives, particularly, in the appreciation and use of universal precautions; 92% said they were able apply some of the microbiological concepts in movie to broaden their understanding of microbes and 98% enjoyed the movie assignment compared to a traditional presentation or paper. This assignment engaged and excited students and they came to appreciate the knowledge gained in the course.
