An Inquiry Safari: What Can We Learn From Skulls?

In this article, we describe an 8- to 10-day inquiry safari designed for middle/high school students to investigate hominid evolution using replica skulls of extant and extinct vertebrates. Students begin the unit using their own skulls and proceed to use the replica skulls of extant vertebrates to construct an understanding of how skulls can be used to interpret and infer diets, dentition, dental formulae, bipedal or quadrupedal locomotion, and the social structure of animals. They are then able to use this knowledge to construct similar inferences for extinct fossil hominids. Using radiometric dating data, the students develop possible phylogenetic pathways for hominid evolution. The lessons promote the use of inquiry skills including journaling, observing, drawing, puzzle-making, using taxonomic keys, and investigating into deep geological time.     

Culturing Mammalian Tissues for Cytogenetic Investigations

Biologists often tend to assume that natural selection acts fundamentally on individuals or on species. It is now appreciated that this is an oversimplification. Present understanding of the unit of natural selection, with its pivotal importance in evolution, largely derives from a consideration of the problem of why altruism exists. This paper reviews evidence for and against the theories that evolution acts essentially on genes, on individuals, on kin, or on larger groups.     

A method to reveal fine-grained and diverse conceptual progressions during learning*

Empirical data on learners’ conceptual progression is required to design curricula and guide students. In this paper, we present the Reference Map Change Coding (RMCC) method for revealing students’ progression at a fine-grained level. The method has been developed and tested through the analysis of successive versions of the productions of eight cohorts (N = 100 total) of high school biology students groups, involved in a year-long inquiry-based learning design. Concepts and causal links expressed in students’ gradually refined explanations of biological phenomena are charted onto reference model maps. Trends within variability in all cohorts are measured by a consolidated Prevalence Index (cPI) counting the occurrence of each item across all versions of the students’ explanations. Results of a case study presented reveal great variability in patchwork progressions. Learners’ diverse and often surprising conceptual paths challenge the view of learning as a linear process. For example, some items consistently appear later, thereby offering empirical evidence of slow spots that require attention. We discuss possible causes, educational implications, and show that our method offers crucial insight into the process of learning as it happens. We finally argue that RMCC also could become a follow-up tool for interested teachers.     

Diffusion activities in college laboratory manuals

Many have called for reform of the science curriculum to incorporate the process of inquiry: this has been shown to improve student understanding of biological concepts. Laboratory activities provide excellent opportunities to incorporate inquiry in to the curriculum. This study used a modified version of the Laboratory Task Analysis Instrument (LAI) to analyse diffusion activities in 10 manuals available to two-year and four-year colleges in the United States. The analyses revealed that most manuals did not include much inquiry, similar to previous studies of high school laboratory manuals. Furthermore, they often failed to engage students in the planning and design of the activity, and they did not encourage students to apply what they learned in a broader context — two essential components of inquiry. This study showed the need for educators to review the materials that are available and implement changes that would promote the use of inquiry.     

Teaching Evolution Concepts to Early Elementary School Students

State and national standards call for teaching evolution concepts as early as kindergarten, which provides motivation to continue developing science instruction and curriculum for young learners. The importance of addressing students’ folk theories regarding science justifies teaching evolution early in K-12 education. In this project, we developed, implemented, and researched standards-based lessons to teach elements of evolution (speciation and adaption) to kindergarteners and second graders. Our lessons attended to the students’ prior knowledge, and utilized inquiry and modeling to teach and assess their ability to recognize patterns of similarity and differences among organisms. Using their products and comments as evidence, it was apparent the students were able to communicate recognition of patterns and effectively apply their knowledge in near transfer activities, indicating they achieved our learning objectives. This provides support for teaching evolution concepts in the early grades and evidence of the ability for young children to effectively engage in supported inquiry and modeling for learning science.     

以问题为中心的学习方法在高职社区问诊技能教学中的应用

目的:探讨以问题为中心的教学方法(problem-based learning,PBL)在高职社区问诊教学中的效果,寻求更有效的现代医学教育方法。方法:在高职社区问诊技能学习中开展以问题为中心的教学方法(PBL),分析问诊中存在的问题,以提高知识应用与沟通能力。结果:通过对62名高职医学生进行问诊技能和见习报告评分显示,成绩优良比率为89%,满意度调查显示83.87%的高职医学生对PBL教学方法满意。PBL教学可以让高职医学生灵活的利用自已的时间,进行比较主动的学习,可以更好的发现高职医学生在问诊见习中存在的问题,有利于提高高职医学生的问诊技能及医患沟通能力,但实施中所需时间较长,占用课时多。结论:PBL教学对高职医学生的主动学习能力、问诊技能及医患沟通能力的提高有利,医学生对PBL教学方法满意度高。在医学教育中可以将PBL教学和传统教学方法结合起来,以在有效的时间里达到更好的教学效果。     

“食品卫生与检验”教学改革与食品安全复合型人才培养

介绍“食品卫生与检验”课程双语教学经验。课程教学以培养复合型食品安全检测、管理人才为目标,注重培养学生的综合能力;建立“与时俱进、复合培养、实践+双语”的教学模式,提高了学生的自主学习能力和实践能力,培养了学生的服务意识和国际视野。     

The House Building of Caddis Larvae: A Source of Projects for Schools

Protoplasmic streaming (cyclosis) in plant cells has long been presented as a purely qualitative exercise in microscopy. Using simple formulae, it is possible to determine the energetics of this process (in terms of ATP hydrolysis) and its relation to the total energy expenditure of the plant cell. This exercise can provide a valuable integration of physicochemical principles and microscopical observation.     

综合性、研究型微生物学实验课的过程性考核

建立了与综合性、研究型微生物学实验课和混合式教学法相适应的过程性考核方式。包括:线上课程考核:含10个单元测验和期末实验理论考试,考试成绩占总评成绩的20%;实施基于综合能力和思维方式培养的高阶性考核:将模块一的4个实验报告制作成论文墙报将模块二的5个实验报告撰写成科技论文,将模块三的3个实验报告整合成水质检验报告,开展微生物培养皿艺术大赛,高阶性考核成绩占总评成绩的30%;期末实验操作考试:由学生随机抽取2项实验操作题进行现场操作,所有指导教师现场打分,操作考试均分占总评成绩的50%。通过实践操作考核促进学生平时注重掌握实验技能。微生物学实验课的过程性评价重视学生基本实验技能的掌握以及引导学生重视综合能力和思维方式的训练,从而有助于提高生物科学类本科人才的培养质量。     

Primary literature as a basis for a high-school biology curriculum

Textbooks, research news from the media, and review articles from popular journals are the most common sources of texts used for high-school biology education. We attempted to adopt primary literature as a means of developing scientific literacy among high-school biology majors. For that purpose, we developed and implemented a primary literature-based curriculum in developmental biology. The process of adapting original research articles to the high-school level, as well as a conversational model developed for learning through research articles, are discussed.