Accuracy and Idea Consideration: A Study of Small-Group Interaction in Biology

The study examines the relationship between scientific accuracy of contributions, peer idea consideration, one’s ability to direct the conversation, and learning outcomes of students engaged in small-group work in an introductory undergraduate biology lab course.

Using Virtual Laboratory Environment for Science Education in Different Educational Settings

Although hands-on laboratory experiments have been traditionally used in education, virtual laboratories have become popular in science courses due to their specific features. In this study, we asked for the students’ opinion on using a 3D desktop-based virtual reality biology lab in two different educational settings, upper secondary education (Lyceum) and University. Our findings indicate that both Lyceum and University students found the use of the virtual laboratory interesting, when learning and practicing on the use of an optical microscope. According to the students’ answers in a specially designed Likert-style questionnaire, this virtual reality-based learning experience was rather satisfactory, helped them easily understand the new topic of microscopy and filled them with confidence regarding their capability to conduct the specific microscopy experiment in a real biology lab. These results, combined with similar findings from other studies, suggest that virtual environments are viewed favourably by students and could be used supplementary to traditional teaching methods applied in hands-on laboratories in different educational settings.

If They Build It

In an undergraduate biochemistry and molecular biology lab course, students designed their own final assignment to communicate their laboratory work to non-disciplinary audiences. A “meta-assignment” guided them as they proposed the content, form, and process requirements. Students strove to develop unique ideas, and all successfully completed their self-assigned projects. Providing students in this class with the freedom, responsibility, and appropriate scaffolding to build their own projects and learning experiences allowed them to interact with their discipline in new ways and enhanced their abilities to design and plan their work, communicate scientific ideas to nonscientists, and think creatively.

ANALISIS KETERAMPILAN PROSES SAINS DAN SIKAP ILMIAH SISWA KELAS XI IPA SMA PADA PRAKTIKUM BIOLOGI

ANALYSIS SCIENCE PROCESS SKILLS AND SCIENTIFIC ATTITUDES OF XI GRADE STUDENTS OF SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN BIOLOGICAL PRACTICEAbstractPracticum is one of the learning methods that cannot be separated from Biology learning. If implemented properly, the practicum can develop science process skills and students' scientific attitudes. This study aims to: (a) analyze student science process skills in Biology practicum at Surakarta State Senior High School 2; (b) analyzing the scientific attitude of students in the Biology practicum at Surakarta State Senior High School 2; and (c) analyzing the effectiveness of Biology practicum in developing science process skills and students' scientific attitudes. This research is a descriptive study conducted at SMA Negeri 2 Surakarta in March to May 2018. The population in this study were all students of class XI IPA SMA Negeri 2 Surakarta even semester 2017/2018 school year totaling 128 students while the sample was taken purposively sampling a total of 56 students. Science process skills data is obtained from the results of the observation sheet analysis while the scientific attitude data is obtained from the observation sheet and student questionnaire. Based on the results of data analysis, it was found that: (1) the science process skills class XI IPA of SMA 2 Surakarta in the Biology lab was categorized very well with the average score of KPS 82.03; and (2) the scientific attitude of the 11th grade students of SMAN 2 Surakarta is in the average category with an average score of 68.63. Thus, it can be concluded that Biology practicum can develop science process skills and students' scientific attitudes.AbstrakPraktikum merupakan salah satu metode pembelajaran yang tidak dapat dipisahkan dari pembelajaran Biologi. Jika dilaksanakan dengan baik, maka praktikum dapat melatihkan keterampilan proses sains (KPS) serta mengembangkan sikap ilmiah siswa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk: (a) menganalisis KPS siswa pada praktikum Biologi di SMA Negeri 2 Surakarta; dan (b) menganalisis sikap ilmiah siswa pada praktikum Biologi di SMA Negeri 2 Surakarta. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian deskriptif yang dilaksanakan di SMA Negeri 2 Surakarta pada bulan Maret sampai dengan Mei 2018. Populasi pada penelitian ini adalah seluruh siswa kelas XI IPA SMA Negeri 2 Surakarta semester genap tahun pelajaran 2017/2018 yang berjumlah 128 siswa sedangkan sampel diambil secara purposive sampling sejumlah 56 siswa. Data KPS diperoleh dari hasil analisis lembar observasi sedangkan data sikap ilmiah diperoleh dari lembar observasi dan angket siswa. Berdasarkan hasil analisis data diperoleh hasil bahwa: (1) KPS kelas XI IPA SMAN 2 Surakarta pada praktikum Biologi dikategorikan sangat baik dengan perolehan rata-rata skor KPS 82.03; serta (2) sikap ilmiah siswa kelas XI IPA SMAN 2 Surakarta masuk dalam kategori cukup baik dengan rata-rata skor 68.63. Dengan demikian, dapat disimpulkan bahwa praktikum Biologi dapat mengembangkan KPS dan sikap ilmiah siswa.

Toxic remains: Infrastructural failure in a Ugandan molecular biology lab

This article complicates romances of infrastructural improvisation by describing infrastructural failures that expose researchers to hazardous chemicals in a Ugandan molecular biology lab. To meet project deadlines, to make careers and to participate in transnational collaborative projects, Ugandan biologists have to stand in for decaying or absent infrastructures with their bodies. Ugandan biologists hide such sacrifices from their international scientific partners and direct the blame elsewhere. An unclear culpability results precisely from the ways in which power works and is distributed across transnational scientific infrastructures.

Development of scientific and practical skills in biology lab works

The teaching methods used in biology are meant to develop the spirit of observation and investigation, specific skills and work techniques, arousing motivation and interest in the study of this beautiful discipline. Beyond scientific knowledge, teaching biology also involves the development of practical skills, the metacognitive ability of students, the much-desired competence of „learning how to learn”. The student's metacognitions are largely determined by the teacher's metacognitions and the teaching strategy must be carefully constructed, modern and adapted to students' requirements, whether we are talking about experiment, demonstration, practical work or learning by discovery.

OCURRENCE OF COCCINELLIDS IN A SPONTANEOUS PLANT CONYZA CANADENSIS (L.)

The objective of this work to register the occurrence and the influence of meteorological factors in the species of coccinelids, associated to the self- grown plant Conyza canadensis (L.). The work was performed during the period between March, 23 rd and July, 31 st, in 2019, in the vegetable garden of the Olericulture Department at IFSULDEMINAS, Campus Machado. The ladybugs were collected weekly in the weed plants, which were later forwarded to the Biology lab, where they were sorted and submitted to the identification. It has been found the species of Cycloneda sanguinea, Harmonia axyridis, Hippodamia convergens and larvae of ladybirds. Temperature and humidity influenced in the occurrence of ladybugs in the plants of C. canadensis.

Student Behaviors and Interactions Influence Group Discussions in an Introductory Biology Lab Setting

Students naturally take on different behaviors when engaged in group discussion of data, which sorts them into preferred roles. In discussions in which all students collaborate, groups generate more complete arguments to support conclusions. Without guidance, groups generally focus on analyzing data rather than building reasoned explanations.

Small Molecules Targeting the Hedgehog Pathway: From Phenotype to Mechanistic Understanding

Since the beginning of 2019, the Hoogendoorn lab is active at the University of Geneva. We are a Chemical Biology lab and our research focuses on the Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathway and the primary cilium, a small cellular organelle which corrects structure and function, is required to conduct the Hh signal. Ciliary Hh signalling plays an important role in embryonic development, and its dysregulation consequently results in developmental disorders as well as a variety of cancers. We use an interdisciplinary approach, ranging from organic chemistry to cell biology and genetics, to develop chemical tools to study and perturb ciliary signalling. In this account, I will highlight existing small molecules that target the Hh pathway, our efforts to discover new compounds, and the methodologies that we employ for target deconvolution and mechanism of action studies.