What Do Secondary Students Really Learn during Investigations with Living Animals? Parameters for Effective Learning with Social Insects

Exemplary for social insects, Temnothorax ants allow for various hands-on investigations in biology classes. The aim of this study was to provide a quantitative and qualitative analysis of secondary school students’ learning achievement after teaching units with ants lasting between one and six weeks. The questionnaires included transfer and factual knowledge tasks divided into eight fields of knowledge. Students (N = 459) from 22 classes participated in the study and received different treatments: The experimental group (n = 366) started their investigations by initial observation using stereo microscopes, while the control group (n = 93) conducted ant research without this introductory teaching unit. We investigated the influence of class level, gender and time period of participation on knowledge acquisition. Independent of class level, factual learning achievement was observed for all fields of knowledge except ecology. We did not find a positive correlation between time period of participation and basic ant knowledge acquisition. The findings suggest that ant research may be implemented within the framework of a progressive curriculum for all secondary school students. However, attentive and detailed observation of ant colonies with stereo microscopes and continuous repetition of technical terms seem to be inevitable preconditions for learning achievement.     

Investigating high school students' conceptualizations of the biological basis of learning

Students go to school to learn. How much, however, do students understand about the biological basis of this everyday process? Blackwell et al. (1) demonstrated a correlation between education about learning and academic achievement. Yet there are few studies investigating high school students' conceptions of learning. In this mixed-methods research study, written assessments were administered to 339 high school students in an urban school district after they completed their required biology education, and videotaped interviews were conducted with 15 students. The results indicated that the majority of students know little about the biological basis of learning, even with prompting, and they recall having learned little about it in school. Students appear to believe that people control their own ability to learn, and some have developed personal hypotheses to describe the learning process. On written assessments, 75% of participants demonstrated a nonbiological framework for learning, and, during interviews, 67% of participants revealed misconceptions about the biological basis of learning. Sample quotes of these interviews are included in this report, and the implications of these findings are discussed.     

Using a high-fidelity patient simulator with first-year medical students to facilitate learning of cardiovascular function curves

Students are relying on technology for learning more than ever, and educators need to adapt to facilitate student learning. High-fidelity patient simulators (HFPS) are usually reserved for the clinical years of medical education and are geared to improve clinical decision skills, teamwork, and patient safety. Finding ways to incorporate HFPS into preclinical medical education represents more of a challenge, and there is limited literature regarding its implementation. The main objective of this study was to implement a HFPS activity into a problem-based curriculum to enhance the learning of basic sciences. More specifically, the focus was to aid in student learning of cardiovascular function curves and help students develop heart failure treatment strategies based on basic cardiovascular physiology concepts. Pretests and posttests, along with student surveys, were used to determine student knowledge and perception of learning in two first-year medical school classes. There was an increase of 21% and 22% in the percentage of students achieving correct answers on a posttest compared with their pretest score. The median number of correct questions increased from pretest scores of 2 and 2.5 to posttest scores of 4 and 5 of a possible total of 6 in each respective year. Student survey data showed agreement that the activity aided in learning. This study suggests that a HFPS activity can be implemented during the preclinical years of medical education to address basic science concepts. Additionally, it suggests that student learning of cardiovascular function curves and heart failure strategies are facilitated.     

Move,Stop, Learn: Illustrating Mitosis through Stop-Motion Animation

Learning about microscopic things, such as cells, can often be mundane to students because they are not able to see or manipulate what they are learning about. Students often recall learning about cell division through memorization—thus they find it tedious and dull. Few opportunities exist that allow students to explore and manipulate cells or the process of cellular division. This activity attempts to combat the monotony that is often associated with learning mitosis by engaging students in creating a stop-motion animation video using iPads. Our students found the activity fun, enjoyed it more than learning mitosis through traditional methods, and believed making the video helped them understand cell division.     

Problem-based learning and the medical school: another case of the emperor's new clothes?

For almost four decades, problem-based learning (PBL) has been the stated cornerstone of learning in many medical schools. Proponents of PBL cite the open nature of the learning experience where students are free to study in depth, unencumbered by the burdens of broad courses based on the memorization of facts; detractors, on the other hand, cite the lack of breadth and factual knowledge required for professional qualification. Both points of view have merit. Professional schools have a different set of needs and requirements, and it is these that drive the curriculum and learning philosophies. The constraints of the professional school are so different from those of the purely academic environment that PBL, while admirably suited to the latter, is just problem solving in the former.     

Virtual parameter-estimation experiments in Bioprocess-Engineering education

Cell growth kinetics and reactor concepts constitute essential knowledge for Bioprocess-Engineering students. Traditional learning of these concepts is supported by lectures, tutorials, and practicals: ICT offers opportunities for improvement. A virtual-experiment environment was developed that supports both model-related and experimenting-related learning objectives. Students have to design experiments to estimate model parameters: they choose initial conditions and ‘measure’ output variables. The results contain experimental error, which is an important constraint for experimental design. Students learn from these results and use the new knowledge to re-design their experiment. Within a couple of hours, students design and run many experiments that would take weeks in reality. Usage was evaluated in two courses with questionnaires and in the final exam. The faculties involved in the two courses are convinced that the experiment environment supports essential learning objectives well.     

The Psychology of Acquiring Factual Knowledge by Schoolchildren

The learning of factual knowledge is a central problem in psychology and pedagogy; and study of the principles governing this process and of methods for organizing it is directly related to one of the chief tasks of schooling — imparting complete and solid factual knowledge to children.     

科学典故在组织胚胎学教学中的应用

人体组织胚胎学是一门医学形态学课程,也是医学生进入人体奥秘大门的一把重要钥匙,但形态结构中繁多的记忆内容常常让学生感到学习枯燥,因而更需要授课教师通过不同形式的教学策略引导学生领会其中的乐趣和科学意义。在众多的教学方法和教学手段中,适当引用教学内容相关的科学典故和科学名人,能在潜移默化中培养学生的学习兴趣,理解相关的理论知识,改善教学效果。本文作者整理了一些组织胚胎学教学内容相关的科学典故及其在教学中的应用,供同行交流和医学生参考学习。     

PBL教学法在医学寄生虫学教学中的几点体会

目前全国高等医学院校医学寄生虫学学时大大减少,有的院校列为考查课,有的列为选修课。在此情况下,医学寄生虫学实验所占学时更是少之又少,如何利用好有限课时,使学生最大限度地吸收、掌握教学内容,已成为摆在高校师生面前的一道难题。传统的教学方法以讲授为主,容易忽视学生学习的主动性和积极性。而应用了PBL(problem based learning)教学法,其基本要点是以学生为中心、基于问题、综合地、相互合作和交互式地学习,有助于培养和提高学生在自学、实验技术、团队合作、分析问题和解决问题等方面的能力,激发学生学习的积极性和主动性。     

Learning about the Environment

In this article, the authors describe an integrated science and literacy instructional model in which students build background knowledge by engaging in free-choice learning options during an investigation of school yard habitats. Students interact with their peers while inquiring, discussing findings, and using print resources to enhance learning.     

Producing scientific posters,using online scientific resources,improves applied scientific skills in undergraduates

ABSTRACT

To succeed, undergraduate science students need to both acquire knowledge, and learn to apply it effectively. Here a novel 1^st year undergraduate module (incorporating blended learning, applied bioinformatic skills and scientific posters) is described and its effectiveness evaluated (quantitatively and qualitatively). The aims were to engage students and teach applied skills through a process-oriented guided-inquiry learning (POGIL) based project, utilising common online tools. Given a nucleotide entry and utilising the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) platform students had to identify a specific human syndrome. Students then retrieved and summarised key scientific data, presenting it as a scientific poster. The module effectiveness was demonstrated by the students ability to acquire knowledge (content) and apply it (process), by finding and extracting data from online databases. Assessment included evaluation of the students ability to analyse, visualise and explain acquired data as a scientific poster. Module evaluation used qualitative students surveys and quantitative assessment (pre- and post- module, multiple-choice quiz, assessing content or process specific knowledge). The module led to a significant increase in students applied, process specific, knowledge and enhanced their learning experience. This module demonstrates a successful method for incorporating applied learning into an undergraduate module, developing multiple applied professional skills.     

“活动导学、自主互助”教学模式在中学生物教学中的初探

推进课程改革的关键是实现课堂教学的高效,而高效课堂来自于课堂教学过程中师生双方主观能动性的充分发挥,通过教师课前设计学生学习活动方案(活动单),学生在课堂上开展"自主学习、活动探究"式学习,可以实现教师的主导性和突出学生的主体地位。通过实施"活动导学、自主互助"课堂教学模式,取得了一点认识,希望能为当前普通高中生物课堂教学改革提供一点借鉴。     

Easy Rider: Monkeys Learn to Drive a Wheelchair to Navigate through a Complex Maze

The neurological bases of spatial navigation are mainly investigated in rodents and seldom in primates. The few studies led on spatial navigation in both human and non-human primates are performed in virtual, not in real environments. This is mostly because of methodological difficulties inherent in conducting research on freely-moving monkeys in real world environments. There is some incertitude, however, regarding the extrapolation of rodent spatial navigation strategies to primates. Here we present an entirely new platform for investigating real spatial navigation in rhesus monkeys. We showed that monkeys can learn a pathway by using different strategies. In these experiments three monkeys learned to drive the wheelchair and to follow a specified route through a real maze. After learning the route, probe tests revealed that animals successively use three distinct navigation strategies based on i) the place of the reward, ii) the direction taken to obtain reward or iii) a cue indicating reward location. The strategy used depended of the options proposed and the duration of learning. This study reveals that monkeys, like rodents and humans, switch between different spatial navigation strategies with extended practice, implying well-conserved brain learning systems across different species. This new task with freely driving monkeys provides a good support for the electrophysiological and pharmacological investigation of spatial navigation in the real world by making possible electrophysiological and pharmacological investigations.     

Genetics education in the People's Republic of China.

The National Education Commission of the People's Republic of China directs all educational course content from kindergarten to graduate level in all disciplines. The study of genetics is thus controlled by the members of the commission, so there is little variation of course offerings from one institution to another. Formal genetics education begins in lower middle school and is expanded somewhat in upper middle school (high school). Middle school marks the end of the formal education for most Chinese students, although many graduates learn the practical aspects of genetics while working in agricultural plant and animal breeding. Students who continue the study of genetics in universities find that course work is concentrated and research is encouraged, although facilities and supplies are limited. On graduation from a university, most students are sent to factories to use their expertise for increasing food production, while a very small percentage of students continue on to graduate school and eventual research and university teaching. The area of human genetics is handled exclusively in medical schools.     

标准化患者模拟结合案例情景对普外科见习教学的运用分析

目的：探究标准化患者模拟结合案例情景对普外科见习教学的运用。方法：选取我科2012年本科见习生120例进行随机分组,模拟组、案例组及联合组各40例,分别采用标准化患者模拟、案例情景及标准化患者模拟结合案例情景进行教学,对比三组见习生的学习效果,分析联合教学的运用方法。结果：联合组学生见习结束后学习兴趣、知识掌握情况及讲师满意度均显著高于其他两组,其课堂气氛活跃情况明显优于案例组（P〈0．05）;三组学生传统试题错题数无明显统计学差异（P〉0．05）,联合组学生病例分析错题数明显低于案例组及模拟组（P〈0．05）;见习结束时,联合组知识掌握程度及病历书写能力均显著优于模拟组及案例组,三组数据对比存在统计学差异（P〈0．05）。结论：标准化患者模拟结合案例情景能够有效弥补传统见习教学的不足,提高学生学习积极性、课堂活跃度及学习效果,使其知识掌握情况和病历书写能力得到大幅提升,是一种效果优秀的教学方式,值得广泛推广。     

PBL+LBL教学模式在留学生医学微生物学教学中的实践

由于留学生的特殊性导致他们对传统教学模式的不适应,医学微生物学的课程特点使留学生学习掌握相关知识较困难,有必要探索好的教学方法,提高教学质量。我国传统的LBL教学模式和国际上流行的PBL教学模式各有优缺点,我们融合PBL和LBL的优点,互补其缺点,对留学生医学微生物学课程采取PBL+LBL教学模式,既发挥PBL教学法打破学科界限,容易调动学生学习积极性,注重培养学生自主学习和团结协作能力的特点,又结合LBL教学法传授知识系统、完整,培养学生基础理论扎实等优势。教学实践证明,PBL+LBL教学法运用于留学生医学微生物学教学,能激发留学生学习兴趣,在增强留学生对医学微生物学基础理论和基本技能掌握的同时,培养留学生知识整合的能力及创新思维的医学综合能力,提高教学质量。     

Ways of coping as predictors of satisfaction with curriculum and academic success in medical school

The purpose of the present study was to determine the coping strategies of medical students and to investigate the effects of coping strategies on student satisfaction and academic achievement with different instruction methods. A total of 152 medical students was followed throughout the first 2 yr of medical education between 2008 and 2010. Students completed a sociodemographic questionnaire and revised form of the Ways of Coping questionnaire both at the beginning of the first year and at the end of the second year. These forms provided data about the characteristics and main coping strategies (problem focused or emotion focused) of the students and revealed the change over time. At the end of the second year, participants also completed a satisfaction questionnaire asking their satisfaction with lectures, problem-based learning, and practicals. The authors used block, problem-based learning, and practical exam scores of the students attained in the past 2 yr as academic achievement indicators. No sociodemographic variable was related to coping strategy. The majority of students (80.9%) adopted problem-focused coping. A shift occurred in the main coping strategies of some students in both sides. Problem-focused coping scores decreased over time. Problem-focused coping positively correlated with satisfaction with practicals and practical exam scores, whereas emotion-focused coping showed the same correlation negatively. The main coping strategy also predicted satisfaction and exam success in practicals. In conclusion, a main coping strategy may be helpful to predict student satisfaction and academic achievement with some student-centered instruction methods. Determining undesired coping strategies may provide an opportunity for intervention to prevent relevant dissatisfaction and failure.     

生物化学与分子生物学教学模式对比研究

生物化学与分子生物学是医学专业的必修基础课,独立学院学生是大学生群体中的特殊群体,提高他们学习生物化学与分子生物学的兴趣,增加考试通过率是独立学院面临的一项迫切任务.对两组共156名南通大学杏林学院临床专业学生进行了一学年的生物化学教学模式对比研究,结果表明:在对独立学院的生物化学教学中,多媒体教学和随堂测验相结合的教学模式优于仅采用多媒体教学,很有成效.     

Thoughts on Learning and Teaching in the First Two Years of the Medical Curriculum

Suggestions for improvement of the educational program in the first two years of the medical curriculum are made in the light of simultaneous experiences as teacher and student. The learning needs of the student should be given more consideration. Many of the present learning-teaching problems could be solved by closer communication and collaboration between instructors teaching the same students coupled to an official recognition of the value of good teaching. In spite of a multiplicity of courses and basic science departments, the student is a single person with a rather limited goal. He is required to learn and remember a vast amount of detailed factual information during his first two years of the medical curriculum. The medical student should be reinstated as an integral human component of the structure and functioning of each department. This is a difficult task because the dual functions of research in a specialized discipline and undergraduate medical teaching frequently pull an individual''s or department''s activities in opposite directions and lead to administrative problems.