面向中学生物教育的高师遗传学教学改革

遗传学知识,在中学生物教学中占有较大比重,随着中学新课改的实施,生物教材在教学内容上也有了一些变化。为使高师院校的遗传学教学适应中学生物教学的需要以及高师院校对师范生的培养要求,作者对遗传学教学内容进行了改革,使其与中学生物教学内容和特点紧密结合,同时在遗传学教学中渗透了对学生生物教学技能的培养。     

Four decades of teaching developmental biology in Germany

I have taught developmental biology in Essen for 30 years. Since my department is named Zoophysiologie (Zoophysiology), besides Developmental Biology, I also have to teach General Animal Physiology. This explains why the time for teaching developmental biology is restricted to a lecture course, a laboratory course and several seminar courses. However, I also try to demonstrate in the lecture courses on General Physiology the close relationship between developmental biology, physiology, morphology, anatomy, teratology, carcinogenesis, evolution and ecology (importance of environmental factors on embryogenesis). Students are informed that developmental biology is a core discipline of biology. In the last decade, knowledge about molecular mechanisms in different organisms has exponentially increased. The students are trained to understand the close relationship between conserved gene structure, gene function and signaling pathways, in addition to or as an extension of, classical concepts. Public reports about the human genome project and stem cell research (especially therapeutic and reproductive cloning) have shown that developmental biology, both in traditional view and at the molecular level, is essential for the understanding of these complex topics and for serious and non-emotional debate.     

A Familiar(ity) Problem: Assessing the Impact of Prerequisites and Content Familiarity on Student Learning

Prerequisites are embedded in most STEM curricula. However, the assumption that the content presented in these courses will improve learning in later courses has not been verified. Because a direct comparison of performance between students with and without required prerequisites is logistically difficult to arrange in a randomized fashion, we developed a novel familiarity scale, and used this to determine whether concepts introduced in a prerequisite course improved student learning in a later course (in two biology disciplines). Exam questions in the latter courses were classified into three categories, based on the degree to which the tested concept had been taught in the prerequisite course. If content familiarity mattered, it would be expected that exam scores on topics covered in the prerequisite would be higher than scores on novel topics. We found this to be partially true for “Very Familiar” questions (concepts covered in depth in the prerequisite). However, scores for concepts only briefly discussed in the prerequisite (“Familiar”) were indistinguishable from performance on topics that were “Not Familiar” (concepts only taught in the later course). These results imply that merely “covering” topics in a prerequisite course does not result in improved future performance, and that some topics may be able to removed from a course thereby freeing up class time. Our results may therefore support the implementation of student-centered teaching methods such as active learning, as the time-intensive nature of active learning has been cited as a barrier to its adoption. In addition, we propose that our familiarity system could be broadly utilized to aid in the assessment of the effectiveness of prerequisites.     

动物资源学课程定位与教学探讨

动物资源学是近几年生物学科新设课程之一,到目前为止,尚无明确的教材和教学体系。本文结合近几年的教学经验,就该课程的定位、教学对象、教学体系与教学内容以及教学实践等问题进行了详细的探讨,旨在就动物资源学的教学体系抛砖引玉,为丰富课堂教学和提高教学质量提供参考。     

Toward a consensus on radiobiology teaching to radiation oncology residents

There are approximately 82 radiation oncology residency programs in the United States, which provide training opportunities for about 400 residents. All accredited radiation oncology residency programs must have at least one basic scientist on the faculty, and it is these individuals who often assume, wholly or in part, the responsibility of teaching radiation and cancer biology to radiation oncology residents in preparation for the American College of Radiology (ACR) In-Training Examination in Radiation Oncology and the American Board of Radiology (ABR) written examinations. In response to a perceived lack of uniformity in radiation and cancer biology curricula currently being taught to residents and a perceived lack of guidance for instructors in formulating course content for this population, a special session was presented at the Forty-eighth Annual Radiation Research Society meeting on April 23, 2001. The session, entitled "Toward a Consensus on Radiobiology Teaching to Radiation Oncology Residents", was focused on issues related to teaching radiobiology to radiation oncology residents and targeted for individuals who actively teach radiation and cancer biology as well as coordinators of residency training programs. The speakers addressed current challenges and future problems facing instructors and programs. Among these were lack of feedback on resident performance on ABR and ACR written examinations and on course content, uncertainty about what topics residents must know to pass the ABR examination, and, in the near future, a reduction (due to retirement) of instructors qualified to teach radiobiology. This article provides a synopsis of the information that was presented during that session, offers a glimpse into how the ABR and ACR examinations are prepared and details of the content of past and future examinations, and summarizes the activities of the Joint Working Group on Radiobiology Teaching which was formed to educate instructors, to establish a consensus for course curricula, and to improve the overall quality of resident teaching.     

Teaching more by lecturing less

We carried out an experiment to determine whether student learning gains in a large, traditionally taught, upper-division lecture course in developmental biology could be increased by partially changing to a more interactive classroom format. In two successive semesters, we presented the same course syllabus using different teaching styles: in fall 2003, the traditional lecture format; and in spring 2004, decreased lecturing and addition of student participation and cooperative problem solving during class time, including frequent in-class assessment of understanding. We used performance on pretests and posttests, and on homework problems to estimate and compare student learning gains between the two semesters. Our results indicated significantly higher learning gains and better conceptual understanding in the more interactive course. To assess reproducibility of these effects, we repeated the interactive course in spring 2005 with similar results. Our findings parallel results of similar teaching-style comparisons made in other disciplines. On the basis of this evidence, we propose a general model for teaching large biology courses that incorporates interactive engagement and cooperative work in place of some lecturing, while retaining course content by demanding greater student responsibility for learning outside of class.     

“微生物学”全英文课程的建设改革与思考

“微生物学”是高等院校生物类、生物工程类及相关专业的专业基础课程。目前我国高等院校的“微生物学”以中文授课为主,但随着“双一流”建设等教改政策的推进及学生求学多元化需求的增加,全英文“微生物学”课程建设已势在必行。华东理工大学自2016年即开始“微生物学”全英文授课,并在授课方式和课程内容方面进行了改革和创新。“微生物学”全英文课程开设后,学生的学习兴趣有了很大的提高,科研能力和实践能力有了长足的进步,在专业英语的听、说、读、写能力方面也领先于同年级其他同学,为“双一流”建设背景下国家级一流本科专业创新性人才培养提供了重要支撑。     

荧光显微成像在医学细胞生物学实验教学中的应用探索

医学细胞生物学是医学院校本科生的重要基础学科之一,其实验课程教学工作的改革与创新具有重要意义。本文深入分析了医学细胞生物学实验课程现状,认为课程普遍存在目的不明确、内容不新颖、缺乏整体性、临床联系少等问题。荧光显微成像技术是细胞生物学研究中的关键技术,利用这一技术设计具有整体性的科研实验对于培养医学生操作能力和科研素养具有重要意义。顺铂(cisplatin)为当前肿瘤联合化疗中最常用的药物之一,由于其抗癌机制涉及细胞增殖、细胞凋亡、细胞骨架等一系列细胞生物学知识,且与临床联系紧密,非常适合用于综合性实验设计。实验方案拟使用BrdU染色、Hoechst33258染色及鬼笔环肽染色法,分别检测人肺癌细胞系A549顺铂处理后细胞增殖、细胞凋亡及细胞骨架重排情况。实验完成后,鼓励学生通过查阅文献得出综合的实验结论。希望能够通过科研与教学相融合的方式,更好的激发医学生的学习热情,提高医学生的科研素质,培养全方位的医学人才。     

细胞生物学实验课教学改革初探

实验教学是细胞生物学课程学习的重要组成部分,本文结合当前国内高校细胞生物学实验课的教学模式,分析了细胞生物学实验课教学过程中存在的一些主要问题,从实验内容的选择、教学方法和考核评价体系等方面提出了实验课教学改革的几点建议,为增强生物专业学生的实验课能力提供方案。     

Perceptions of nature conservation by future biologists attending private universities in São Paulo State,Brazil

As conservation agents, biologists play a central role in nature preservation as information-gatherers, promoters of environmental education, lobbyists, and members of societies. Consequently, it is important to understand what factors determine their attitudes towards conservation. We aimed to assess which taxa and recovery measures students from biology core courses consider priorities for conservation and to determine the value students associate with conservation compared to other topics. We asked students (n?=?122) from two private universities in São Paulo State, Brazil to fill out an anonymous questionnaire. They highlighted rarity, vanishing habitats and endemism as important criteria in prioritizing species. Carnivores were identified as the most threatened mammals and habitat recovery was deemed to be the most efficient conservation action. Students valued healthcare, cultural heritage and science over conservation. Our results reveal a two-sided perspective of conservation among students from biology core courses; they possess knowledge of conservation issues but are greatly influenced by anthropocentric and utilitarian views of nature.     

Learning developmental biology has priority in the life sciences curriculum in Singapore

Singapore has embraced the life sciences as an important discipline to be emphasized in schools and universities. This is part of the nation's strategic move towards a knowledge-based economy, with the life sciences poised as a new engine for economic growth. In the life sciences, the area of developmental biology is of prime interest, since it is not just intriguing for students to know how a single cell can give rise to a complex, coordinated, functional life that is multicellular and multifaceted, but more importantly, there is much in developmental biology that can have biomedical implications. At different levels in the Singapore educational system, students are exposed to various aspects of developmental biology. The author has given many guest lectures to secondary (ages 12-16) and high school (ages 17-18) students to enthuse them about topics such as embryo cloning and stem cell biology. At the university level, some selected topics in developmental biology are part of a broader course which caters for students not majoring in the life sciences, so that they will learn to comprehend how development takes place and the significance of the knowledge and impacts of the technologies derived in the field. For students majoring in the life sciences, the subject is taught progressively in years two and three, so that students will gain specialist knowledge in developmental biology. As they learn, students are exposed to concepts, principles and mechanisms that underlie development. Different model organisms are studied to demonstrate the rapid advances in this field and to show the interconnectivity of developmental themes among living things. The course inevitably touches on life and death matters, and the social and ethical implications of recent technologies which enable scientists to manipulate life are discussed accordingly, either in class, in a discussion forum, or through essay writing.     

以前沿进展启迪创新思维——“微生物生物学”课程特色专题讲座

"微生物生物学"课程作为理科基地学生的必修课程,对学生夯实专业基础理论知识、开拓科研视野具有积极而重要的作用。如何平衡基础与前沿、理论与实践、教学与科研之间的关系,对课程的内容、形式等都提出了更高的要求。为了丰富和增加学生对微生物学的理解和认识,为生物学理科基地学生明确研究方向提供信息。微生物生物学课程每学期安排8学时专题讲座,其内容不仅与本系教师的科研工作紧密相关,而且还邀请各领域校外专家,讲座内容丰富,涵盖了课程大纲中的主要内容。为学生们深刻明确学习目的、激发科研兴趣、启迪创新性思维搭建了一个平台。通过面对面的交流互动,同学们不仅可获得更多课外知识,了解当今微生物学领域的研究热点,还可从讲座专家那里获得更多切实的科研体会。     

My perpetual cycle: from student to researcher to teacher to student ..

This contribution stems from the personal experience of the author regarding how he became acquainted with embryology and how he finally entered the field of developmental biology. It reports his feelings as a student of the Histology and Embryology course as it was taught in the late 1970s, and his present efforts in teaching developmental biology to university students. In the Developmental Biology course at Pisa University today, students are taught the tissue, molecular and genetic mechanisms that regulate development of several model systems. Drosophila is introduced at the beginning, because of the great knowledge that it has brought to the unraveling of the molecular aspects of development and because it allows several basic concepts to be introduced, and vertebrate systems follow. Other topics include the classic experiments on amphibian systems, which are explained in the light of recent molecular advances, as well as the genetically more versatile vertebrate systems such as the mouse.     

综合性大学医学院细胞生物学教学改革实践

就如何提高综合性大学医学院校中细胞生物学的教学质量进行了讨论,从如何合理组织优化教学内容,充分应用现代教学手段和教学方法提高课堂教学效果,开展实践性教学环节的改革,不断提高学生的分析问题和解决问题的能力等方面介绍了细胞生物学教学改革的方法和措施,并就如何进一步提高教学质量、激发学生学习积极性等方面进行探讨。     

提高农业院校微生物学课程教学质量探析

微生物学是农业院校涉及生物类学生的重要专业基础课程,是连接基础课和专业课的一门桥梁学科,而在实际教学过程中却出现教学质量下滑现象。为确保教学质量,本文从教学管理、教材选用、师资队伍、教学手段四个方面分析了农业院校微生物学教学质量下滑的原因,结合自身的教学体会提出了改进建议,旨在为微生物学教学改革提供参考。     

The role of textbooks in communicating developmental biology

Writing a textbook that synthesized the field from the perspectives of embryology, genetics, cell biology and molecular biology was a challenge. Because this field evolves so rapidly, a textbook can only lay the basic foundation for understanding new information and provide the framework that helps scholars place new information into context throughout their career. In this essay, I propose that an international college of specialists be established to provide authoritative online updates on developmental biology topics as a service to students and the professional developmental biology community.     

细胞生物学实验课教学改革初探

实验教学是细胞生物学课程学习的重要组成部分,本文结合当前国内高校细胞生物学实验课的教学模式,分析了细胞生物学实验课微学过程中存在的一些主要问题,从实验内容的选择、教学方法和考核评价体系等方面提出了实验课教学改革的几点建议,为增强生物专业学生的实验课能力提供方案。     

Importance of an appropriate visual presentation for avoiding a misconception of the menstrual cycle

Family planning, the prevention of unwanted pregnancy, and women’s reproductive health are topics that have received close attention for decades. It would therefore be fair to assume that there exists a good knowledge of the menstrual cycle. However, it is clear that many people have various misconceptions about the menstrual cycle and fertile days or ovulation, and that this process is still largely taught with the aid of materials and images that have not changed for many years. We investigated the effect of moving away from the usual teaching practice of using a 28-day diagram showing ovulation on the 14th day. A total of 184 students from three different high schools, aged between 17 and 18, participated in this research. The students who were taught using three diagrams showing different durations of the menstrual cycle showed a significantly better adoption of the facts and concepts compared to the students who were taught using a diagram of the average 28-day cycle. Our results confirmed that it is highly important to use appropriate visual displays in the teaching of the menstrual cycle and that it is essential to enhance the visual literacy of students and teachers.     

研究生课程体系建设与教学方法研究探讨——以《分子细胞生物学》为例

在《分子细胞生物学》课程体系和教学方法研究中,提出了"以分子细胞生物学领域最新研究进展为主要内容"的课程体系以及"培养学生创造性思维为主题"的课堂教学方法和考核模式为要特征的教学改革,很好地培养了学生对《分子细胞生物学》的兴趣和较强的科研的能力。本文从课程体系、教学方法和考试方式等方面总结了《分子细胞生物学》课程改革的研究成果。     

Use of animation in teaching cell biology

To address the different learning styles of students, and because students can access animation from off-campus computers, the use of digital animation in teaching cell biology has become increasingly popular. Sample processes from cell biology that are more clearly presented in animation than in static illustrations are identified. The value of animation is evaluated on whether the process being taught involves motion, cellular location, or sequential order of numerous events. Computer programs for developing animation and animations associated with cell biology textbooks are reviewed, and links to specific examples of animation are given. Finally, future teaching tools for all fields of biology will increasingly benefit from an expansion of animation to the use of simulation. One purpose of this review is to encourage the widespread use of animations in biology teaching by discussing the nature of digital animation.