scholarly journals Biology Instructional Resources Availability and Extent of their Utilization in Teaching Pre-Service Biology Teachers

Author(s):  
Josiane Mukagihana ◽  
Florien Nsanganwimana ◽  
Catherine Aurah

Education of pre-service science teachers necessitates inquiry and resource-based instruction to ensure the production of both hands-on and mind-on skilled science teachers. This becomes possible when a variety of instructional resources regularly support the teaching process. This study aimed to identify the types of available biology instructional resources and their extent of use in teaching pre-service biology teachers. The study used a descriptive survey research design and was conducted in three private Universities selected from those offering education in Rwanda. Eighty-two pre-service biology teachers and five biology lecturers participated in the study. Observational checklist of biology instructional resources and questionnaires aided the collection of data analyzed by frequency counts and percentages. The findings revealed that biology instructional resources like classroom chairs, chalkboards, laboratories, microscopes, centrifuge, slide projectors, biology textbooks were available while resources like a class whiteboard, classroom overhead projectors, electrophoresis unit, recorders, Polymerase chain reaction machines, among others, were absent. The findings also revealed low-level use of available biology instructional resources in teaching pre-service biology teachers. The implication is the likelihood of producing less competent future biology teachers. The provision of adequate biology instructional resources, as well as the monitoring of their use in teaching biology, was recommended

Author(s):  
Josiane Mukagihana ◽  
Florien Nsanganwimana ◽  
Catherine Aurah

Education of pre-service science teachers necessitates inquiry and resource-based instruction to ensure the production of both hands-on and mind-on skilled science teachers. This becomes possible when a variety of instructional resources regularly support the teaching process. This study aimed to identify the types of available biology instructional resources and their extent of use in teaching pre-service biology teachers. The study used a descriptive survey research design and was conducted in three private Universities selected from those offering education in Rwanda. Eighty-two pre-service biology teachers and five biology lecturers participated in the study. Observational checklist of biology instructional resources and questionnaires aided the collection of data analyzed by frequency counts and percentages. The findings revealed that biology instructional resources like classroom chairs, chalkboards, laboratories, microscopes, centrifuge, slide projectors, biology textbooks were available while resources like a class whiteboard, classroom overhead projectors, electrophoresis unit, recorders, Polymerase chain reaction machines, among others, were absent. The findings also revealed low-level use of available biology instructional resources in teaching pre-service biology teachers. The implication is the likelihood of producing less competent future biology teachers. The provision of adequate biology instructional resources, as well as the monitoring of their use in teaching biology, was recommended


2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea D. Weston ◽  
Sasha Stasko ◽  
Gerald M. Kidder

To address a growing need to make research trainees in physiology comfortable with the tools of molecular biology, we have developed a laboratory-intensive course designed for graduate students. This course is offered to a small group of students over a three-week period and is organized such that comprehensive background lectures are coupled with extensive hands-on experience. The course is divided into seven modules, each organized by a faculty member who has particular expertise in the area covered by that module. The modules focus on basic methods such as cDNA subcloning, sequencing, gene transfer, polymerase chain reaction, and protein and RNA expression analysis. Each module begins with a lecture that introduces the technique in detail by providing a historical perspective, describing both the uses and limitations of that technique, and comparing the method with others that yield similar information. Most of the lectures are followed by a laboratory session during which students follow protocols that were carefully designed to avoid pitfalls. Throughout these laboratory sessions, students are given an appreciation of the importance of proper technique and accuracy. Communication among the students, faculty, and the assistant coordinator is focused on when and why each procedure would be used, the importance of each step in the procedure, and approaches to troubleshooting. The course ends with an exam that is designed to test the students’ general understanding of each module and their ability to apply the various techniques to physiological questions.


RSC Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (16) ◽  
pp. 12071-12077 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenming Wu ◽  
Kieu The Loan Trinh ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Nae Yoon Lee

A strategy for realizing self-actuated pumping with uniform flow rate over a long distance is introduced using hands-on operation of disposable syringe, and was applied for on-chip flow-through PCR inside a serpentine PMMA microchannel.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Agung W. Subiantoro ◽  
David Treagust ◽  
Kok-Sing Tang

Abstract Promoting socio-scientific issue (SSI)-based instruction in Indonesian science classrooms requires competent science teachers. To understand teachers’ perceptions about the implementation of SSI-based instruction, a case study involving four biology teachers engaged in a teacher professional development program was conducted. The program consisted of four phases: reflection on teachers’ prior teaching experience and background knowledge, 3-day SSI-based teaching workshop, collaborative development and implementation of SSI-based learning in biology, and post-implementation reflections by teachers. Teachers’ perceptions were gathered via interviews and written reflections, which were analyzed qualitatively with an explanation building mode approach. Findings indicated a positive development along four dimensions: knowledge about SSIs and scientific literacy, the necessity of including SSIs in science instruction, situational factors related to addressing SSIs in class, and teachers’ attitude towards teaching SSIs. Further research needs to be conducted in Indonesian contexts to be able to extend the SSI teacher professional development program to different regions.


Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petra Wandernoth ◽  
Katharina Kriegsmann ◽  
Cristina Groh-Mohanu ◽  
Martin Daeumer ◽  
Peter Gohl ◽  
...  

Background: Amplification of viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) is the gold standard to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since the initial outbreak, strategies to detect and isolate patients have been important to avoid uncontrolled viral spread. Although testing capacities have been upscaled, there is still a need for reliable high throughput test systems, specifically those that require alternative consumables. Therefore, we tested and compared two different methods for the detection of viral PCR products: rRT-PCR and mass spectrometry (MS). Methods: Viral RNA was isolated and amplified from oro- or nasopharyngeal swabs. A total of 22 samples that tested positive and 22 samples that tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 by rRT-PCR were analyzed by MS. Results of the rRT-PCR and the MS protocol were compared. Results: Results of rRT-PCR and the MS test system were in concordance in all samples. Time-to-results was faster for rRT-PCR. Hands-on-time was comparable in both assays. Conclusions: MS is a fast, reliable and cost-effective alternative for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 from oral and nasopharyngeal swabs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 79 (9) ◽  
pp. 702-710
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Bonney ◽  
Lori Nicholas

This lesson presents an interrupted case study based on the true story of the 2002 murder of Christa Worthington in Massachusetts. The case was developed for use in an undergraduate non-majors life science course, but would also be appropriate for a high school biology course or a forensic science course. During this lesson, students examine a crime scene diagram and discuss evidence collection. Students then conduct a hands-on activity extracting DNA from wheat germ to simulate how DNA would be isolated from crime scene samples. Lastly the students will analyze simulated DNA profiles produced using STRs, polymerase chain reaction, and gel electrophoresis to help match a crime scene sample to one of five suspects. The pros and cons surrounding the use of a DNA dragnet are also discussed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-51
Author(s):  
Ladislav Merta ◽  
Tomáš Pinkr ◽  
Vanda Janštová

Molecular biology topics tend to be abstract and hard to visualize, and consequently pupils form many misconceptions about genetics and molecular biology. We describe how to make a hands-on educational set that provides visual and tactile modeling of DNA replication, transcription, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and random mutations so that students can examine these processes in detail. The set is inexpensive and easy to make, has been used successfully, and allows for modification to fit individual teachers' needs.


Jurnal PEPADU ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-143
Author(s):  
Eustachius Hagni Wardoyo ◽  
Yunita Sabrina ◽  
Dewi Suryani

Teknik molekuler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) merupakan teknik dasar amplifikasi materi genetik dan protein yang sangat bermanfaat dalam bidang biologi, kedokteran, pertanian dan bidang lain. PCR digunakan dalam identifikasi kelainan genetik, diagnosis mikrobiologi, sekuensing DNA, identifikasi forensik dan masih banyak lagi. Dasar dasar biomolekuler dan teknik PCR ini tertuang dalam kurikulum SMA untuk siswa kelas 3 SMA. Melihat adanya kesenjangan belum terpaparnya semua guru SMA di kota Mataram dengan teknik PCR ini maka perlu dilakukan pengenalan teknik PCR bagi guru SMA dengan harapan akan membantu guru dalam mengimplementasikan materi ini ke dalam pelajaran biologi SMA. Dalam pelatihan ini guru biologi sebagai salah satu perantaraan pembelajaran utama siswa SMA diperkenalkan teknik ini secara Hands-On. Sebanyak 12 guru yang mewakili 12 SMA di kota Mataram ikut serta dalam pelatihan ini.  Pengenalan teknik PCR dilakukan dalam dua fase: presentasi di kelas dan demonstrasi di laboratorium. Presentasi dikelas menjelaskan dasar materi genetik dan teknik PCR dan dilanjutkan dengan demonstrasi pembuatan PCR mix, menjalankan thermal cycler dan dilanjutkan pembacaan hasil PCR di gel agarose. Peningkatan nilai pretest dan post test terjadi pada seluruh peserta dengan rerata pretest 44,4% (nilai terendah 10% dan tertinggi 70%) meningkat menjadi 83.33% (nilai terendah 70 dan nilai tertinggi 100%). Melihat antusiasme partisipan dalam kegiatan ini maka perlu dilakukan kegiatan serupa pada guru SMA yang belum terpapar dengan kegiatan ini


Author(s):  
G. W. Hacker ◽  
I. Zehbe ◽  
J. Hainfeld ◽  
A.-H. Graf ◽  
C. Hauser-Kronberger ◽  
...  

In situ hybridization (ISH) with biotin-labeled probes is increasingly used in histology, histopathology and molecular biology, to detect genetic nucleic acid sequences of interest, such as viruses, genetic alterations and peptide-/protein-encoding messenger RNA (mRNA). In situ polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (PCR in situ hybridization = PISH) and the new in situ self-sustained sequence replication-based amplification (3SR) method even allow the detection of single copies of DNA or RNA in cytological and histological material. However, there is a number of considerable problems with the in situ PCR methods available today: False positives due to mis-priming of DNA breakdown products contained in several types of cells causing non-specific incorporation of label in direct methods, and re-diffusion artefacts of amplicons into previously negative cells have been observed. To avoid these problems, super-sensitive ISH procedures can be used, and it is well known that the sensitivity and outcome of these methods partially depend on the detection system used.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document