天然药物化学实验教学模式的改革探索

天然药物化学是药学专业一门重要的必修课程。其实验课以培养学生的综合实验技能,提高学生的创新能力为主。针对天然药物化学实验教学中存在的问题,对其实验教学内容和方法作出相应的改革,以提高教学效果和质量。     

物理专业生物化学教学的探索与实践

生物化学是一门基础课程,其课程体系严谨,理论知识较难,更新速度很快,新知识、新技术层出不穷。对开设了生物化学课程的物理专业学生来讲,他们化学基础差,有机化学知识的相对缺乏,掌握好该课程还存在一定的难度。从教材的选择、教学内容的优化和更新、课堂研讨的开展、考试形式的优化等方面对物理专业《生物化学》选修课进行了教学改革探讨,将对拓宽学生专业视野、提升学生的综合素质及创新能力、培养跨学科综合性人才起到积极作用。     

Ten simple rules for designing and running a computing minor for bio/chem students

Science students increasingly need programming and data science skills to be competitive in the modern workforce. However, at our university (San Francisco State University), until recently, almost no biology, biochemistry, and chemistry students (from here bio/chem students) completed a minor in computer science. To change this, a new minor in computing applications, which is informally known as the Promoting Inclusivity in Computing (PINC) minor, was established in 2016. Here, we present the lessons we learned from our experience in a set of 10 rules. The first 3 rules focus on setting up the program so that it interests students in biology, chemistry, and biochemistry. Rules 4 through 8 focus on how the classes of the program are taught to make them interesting for our students and to provide the students with the support they need. The last 2 rules are about what happens “behind the scenes” of running a program with many people from several departments involved.     

化学生物学专业微生物学课程教学探索与实践

随着科学技术的发展,微生物学的研究内容与对象都发生了较大变化,与其他学科的交叉会产生新的学科与专业,对新型专业的微生物学课程进行教学改革与探索对于培养复合型与创新型人才十分重要。为适应我校化学生物学专业学生的培养要求,我们对微生物学的教学内容、教学方法和考核方式3个方面进行调整。化学生物学专业微生物学课程独立开课5年来基本达到我校教学目标与化学生物学专业学生的培养要求,本文介绍我校化学生物学专业微生物学课程的改革内容与方向,供同行指正。     

Assessing students’ abilities in processes of scientific inquiry in biology using a paper-and-pencil test

The aim of the study was to describe, categorise and analyse students’ (aged 14–16) processes of scientific inquiry in biology and chemistry education. Therefore, a theoretical structure for scientific inquiry for both biology and chemistry, the VerE model, was developed. This model consists of nine epistemological acts, which combine processes of scientific thinking and inquiry methods. Based on the theoretical structure, a paper-and-pencil test was developed to investigate the students’ abilities in the acts of scientific inquiry. Each of the nine acts was operationalised to generate multiple-choice items. For each act, ten items were constructed. In total, ninety items per subject were tested in a field study to evaluate their psychometric quality. The article focuses on the outcomes for testing in biology. In biology, 537 students were tested with a paper-and-pencil test, following a multi-matrix design in which each student solved twenty-seven items. Data from 260 students have been analysed so far. Seventy-five items showed satisfactory item characteristics. The distribution of the items’ difficulties fits the students’ abilities appropriately. We conclude that theory-driven epistemological acts can be operationalised in tasks that assess students’ abilities in scientific inquiry.     

Using the protein folding literature to teach biophysical chemistry to undergraduates

An understanding of physical chemistry principles enhances student understanding of biochemical phenomena; however, the application of these principles to biological examples is frequently missing in the standard undergraduate physical chemistry curriculum. The topics of protein folding and stability are based in thermodynamics and can serve as a vehicle for presenting essential thermodynamics in a context that is highly relevant to undergraduate biochemistry majors. The outline of a course that replaces the standard thermodynamics offering in physical chemistry is described. The protein folding literature is used to illustrate thermodynamic concepts in this course and students are expected to read and comprehend the assigned literature. The course is offered as a separate biophysical chemistry course for B.S. Biochemistry majors; however, elements of this course may be useful in crafting a more standard thermodynamics course for B.S. Chemistry majors in chemistry departments seeking to fulfill ACS guidelines for approved B.S. Chemistry majors.     

Strength in diversity: a cross-disciplinary approach to graduate training in chemical biology

Chemical biology graduate programs that are jointly organized by chemistry and life science departments can offer a stimulating 'bicultural' training environment for students from diverse backgrounds. However, communication, flexibility and responsiveness are crucial for effectively structuring such programs.     

Strength in diversity: a cross-disciplinary approach to graduate training in chemical biology

Chemical biology graduate programs that are jointly organized by chemistry and life science departments can offer a stimulating 'bicultural' training environment for students from diverse backgrounds. However, communication, flexibility and responsiveness are crucial for effectively structuring such programs.     

Beyond the Movie Screen: An Antarctic Adventure

Movies depicting science-related issues often capture the attention of today's youth. As an instructional tool, movies can take us beyond the drama and action and thrilling scenes. In this article we share our experiences of using the movie Eight Below as a centerpiece for developing high school students’ understanding of basic chemistry concepts. In addition to the science concepts developed using the context of the movie, we engaged students in thinking about the ethical dilemmas embedded in the movie.     

基于“卓越计划”培养目标的水处理微生物学课程改革研究与实践

水处理微生物学是应用化学专业一门重要的专业基础课。为满足"卓越计划"的培养要求,结合我校现阶段教学中存在的问题,从教学大纲制定、课程内容设置、教学手段与方法改革以及建设课程考试评价体系四方面,对水处理微生物学课程进行了改革与实践。结果表明:通过课程改革与实践,学生的工程实践和科研创新能力得到增强,综合素质得到提高,为卓越工程师的成功培养奠定了基础。     

Instructional Integration of Disciplines for Promoting Children’s Positive Attitudes Towards Plants

Plants are an integral part of nature. Many plant species in almost any part of the world are under serious threats due to various reasons such as deforestation, pollution–of air, water and soil–caused by industrialisation, overgrazing and rapid population growth. It is likely that people have strong positive attitudes towards conservation of plants. This study investigated the effectiveness of an instructional approach based on integration of botany with chemistry and art on students’ attitude towards plants. This study was carried out in a science summer school for 10–12-years-old students (N = 49) in Turkey. The Plant Attitude Questionnaire was used as pre-test and post-test to assess the effects of the instruction on the students’ attitudes towards plants. Moreover, the participating children were asked to keep journals throughout the instruction. The children’s journals served as a data collection tool. The findings of the study indicated that integration of botany with chemistry and art is a good way to support children’s positive attitudes towards plants, particularly for an instructional approach based on the integration of plants with various disciplines to support children’s interest and enjoyment of plants. Also, this approach could offer children opportunities to understand the importance of plants in the living environments of humans and other organisms, and material benefits from plants in industry.     

The Monkey and the Hunter

Learning about the water situation in other regions of the world and the devastating effects of floods on drinking water helps students study science while learning about global water quality. This article provides science activities focused on developing cultural awareness and understanding how local water resources are integrally linked to the quality of the world's water supply. After reading and discussing a case study highlighting one water situation facing the people of Kenya, students explore water sanitation and testing methods, including solar pasteurization and the Colilert test for total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli. These investigations are relevant to inquiry-based water quality labs for high school biology, chemistry, and environmental science.     

Teaching evolution: challenging religious preconceptions

Teaching college students about the nature of science should not be a controversial exercise. College students are expected to distinguish between astronomy and astrology, chemistry and alchemy, evolution and creationism. In practice, however, the conflict between creationism and the nature of science may create controversy in the classroom, even walkouts, when the subject of evolution is raised. The authors have grappled with the meaning of such behaviors. They surveyed 538 students in a public, liberal arts college. Pre/post course surveys were analyzed to track changes in student responses to questions that were either consistent or inconsistent with the Theory of Evolution after a semester of instruction in a college biology or zoology course in which evolution was taught. Many students who were initially undecided about issues regarding evolution had shifted in their viewpoints by the end of the course. It was found that more education about the evidence for and the mechanics of evolutionary processes did not necessarily move students toward a scientific viewpoint. The authors also discovered a "wedge" effect among students who were undecided about questions pertaining to human ancestry at the beginning of the course. About half of these students shifted to a scientific viewpoint at the end of the course; the other half shifted toward agreement with statements consistent with creationism.     

Search for amino acids in apollo returned lunar soil

The lunar samples from Apollo flights 11 through 17 provided the students of chemical evolution with an opportunity of examining extraterrestrial materials for evidence of early prebiological chemistry in the solar system. Our search was directed to water-extractable compounds with emphasis on amino acids. Gas chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry were used for the analysis. It is our conclusion that amino acids are not present in the lunar regolith above the background levels of our investigations.     

独立学院生物化学实验课程的改革与实践

随着知识经济和人才需求的不断发展和提高,教育模式显得相对滞后,严重影响了学生创新思维和应用能力的培养。独立学院生物化学实验教学改革,包括优化实验教学体系,完善实验教学内容,改革实验教学方法和实验考核方式等方面,从而达到独立学院培养应用型人才的目的。     

Search for amino acids in Apollo returned lunar soil.

The lunar samples from Apollo flights 11 through 17 provided the students of chemical evolution with an opportunity of examining extraterrestrial materials for evidence of early prebiological chemistry in the solar system. Our search was directed to water-extractable compounds with emphasis on amino acids. Gas chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry were used for the analysis. It is our conclusion that amino acids are not present in the lunar regolith above the background levels of our investigations.     

The future of education in the molecular life sciences

The changing landscape of education in biochemistry and molecular biology presents many challenges for the future, for students and educators alike. The exponential increase in knowledge, the genomics, proteomics and computing revolutions, and the merging of once separate fields in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, mean that we need to rethink how we should be preparing today's science undergraduates for the future. What do we need to change, and how will we implement it?     

医学院校中生物化学与分子生物学实验课教学的改革实践

为进一步提高生物化学与分子生物学实验课的教学质量,培养学生的综合素质和创新能力,在生物化学与分子生物学实验教学中开展了一系列改革,取得了很好的效果。对改革教学法、丰富教学内容、编订新教材、开放实验室及建立完善综合考核制度等方面改革的必要性及近年来在这些方面实施改革的特色性进行总结,为医学院校实验课教学提供参考。     

Biodegradation as a biotechnological model for the teaching of biochemistry

Review: Biodegradation as a biotechnological model for the teaching of biochemistry. A knowledge of waste treatment and the biodegradation processes involved is necessary for undergraduates in agriculture, chemistry, biology, food technology, etc. Courses in these subjects must make adequate provision for such instruction. In this article, we suggest a theoretical and practical study of composting, which stimulates the interest of the students in metabolic pathways involved in this, and other, biotechnological processes.