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In the field of biology education, adaptive learning has been tested through a case study, serving as a crucible for innovative teaching methodologies designed to provide tailored, engaging, and effective learning experiences. This paper meticulously explores the implementation of select innovations in adaptive learning and reports on the outcomes derived from our fictitious case study. Our research underscores the efficacy of personalized learning pathways, where advanced algorithms dynamically customize content delivery based on individual students' needs and learning styles. Through our case study, we present compelling numerical evidence of a 25% improvement in learning outcomes and a notable 20% increase in student engagement. The strategic integration of real-time feedback and assessment mechanisms plays a pivotal role in enhancing the comprehension of biological concepts, as reflected in a 30% increase in student performance and a 15% boost in knowledge retention. Another simulated innovation involves the incorporation of gamification elements, resulting in a statistically significant 18% increase in student participation and a remarkable 22% surge in enthusiasm for biology studies. Our simulated findings accentuate how these elements can make biology education more enjoyable and motivating in a controlled environment. Furthermore, the simulated utilization of multimodal learning resources, such as videos, simulations, and interactive models, showcases a 28% improvement in students' ability to grasp complex biological concepts. This translates into a tangible 25% enhancement in student performance in assessments. The simulated investigation into the potential of AI-enhanced assistance, with AI chatbots and virtual tutors, reveals a simulated 35% increase in student satisfaction and a 27% improvement in performance. These simulated innovations demonstrate the positive impact of AI integration on student support. In addition, our simulated data-driven insights inform content and platform improvements, resulting in a simulated 20% increase in the adaptability of the learning system. These simulated results provide crucial insights into the optimization of adaptive learning in biology education. Through the presentation of these simulated innovations and their associated numerical results, this paper underscores the transformative potential of adaptive learning in the simulated context of biology education. These simulated innovations not only offer tailored learning experiences but also yield concrete, positive outcomes in terms of student understanding and performance. The simulated implications of our research are discussed in detail, emphasizing the promising future of these innovations in shaping simulated biology education. Furthermore, we suggest avenues for future research to continue improving adaptive learning methods, ensuring the simulated advancement of biology education in the digital age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dynamic field of scientific education, particularly in chemistry and biology, demands the implementation of innovative teaching strategies, driving the need for continuous research to enhance skills in both educators and students. This systematic literature review (SLR) delves into the evolving landscape of chemistry and biology education research, shedding light on key trends, strategies, and skills. Employing the PRISMA methodology, we scrutinized 81 papers to assess the employment of resources, technologies, and methods conducive to effective learning and research. Searches were conducted in the Scopus and Google Scholar databases, with inclusion criteria spanning English and Spanish studies from the last five years. The analysis reveals a notable shift in recent years, emphasizing the diversification of instructional approaches, integration of sustainable practices, and a heightened focus on fostering essential research skills for both educators and students. The study underscores the significant adaptation to digital tools and virtual environments, potentially influenced by the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Remarkable findings include the growing importance of cognitive, social, and emotional competence in student development. This work provides valuable insights for educators, researchers, and policymakers cross-talking the dynamic intersection of teaching and research in chemistry and biology education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper Laboratory Notebooks (PLNs) have been used for centuries to document and archive the thoughts and work of inventors, scientists, students, and engineers. PLNs are the first formal means of scientific communication we teach our students and, in turn, a student's first training on cultivating and expressing scientific thinking. In the science teaching laboratory, PLNs are at the forefront and serve various purposes for students in the science laboratory curriculum, like good documentation practices and accurate record keeping. This paper discusses the reasons for switching to OneNote ELN, the criteria for selecting OneNote ELN software, how OneNote ELN was introduced and used in the course, and students' opinions on using this ELN. We successfully implemented the OneNote ELN in our General Biology Laboratory II sequence course for biology majors and nonmajor students entering the health professions. Students had a generally favorable response to using the OneNote ELN; 98% of students agreed that ELNs enabled them to keep a well-maintained laboratory notebook. Overall, student experience with ELNs was positive, with 85% of students indicating that they would recommend other future science laboratory courses they will be taking to adopt the OneNote ELN. In general, the OneNote ELN was viewed more positively in many respects than the PLNs in ease of its usage, access and organizing the notebook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This paper examines the use of augmented reality (AR) as a concept‐association tool in schools, with the aim of enhancing primary school students' learning outcomes and engagement. Conflicting findings exist in previous studies regarding the cognitive load of AR‐enriched learning, with some reporting reduced load and others indicating increased demand and poorer performance. Understanding these implications is essential for effectively leveraging AR in education. The study offers a fresh perspective on the potential of AR technology in improving educational experiences. Objectives: The primary goal of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of an AR‐assisted concept‐association strategy for improving essential knowledge acquisition and skills outcomes, increasing cognitive load, and increasing self‐efficacy and learning motivation among primary school students. Methods: A quasi‐experimental design with a control group was employed to investigate the effectiveness of the intervention. Results and Conclusions: The results demonstrate that the implementation of the AR‐assisted concept‐association strategy effectively enhanced essential knowledge acquisition and skills outcomes, increased cognitive load, and increased self‐efficacy and learning motivation among primary school students. These findings highlight the potential of AR technology to improve the learning experience and engagement of primary school students. The study contributes to the existing literature on the effectiveness of AR technology in education, suggesting future research directions. Ultimately, it offers a practical solution for improving the learning experience by presenting a new approach for teaching using AR technology. Lay Description: What is currently known about this topic: Augmented reality (AR) technology has been increasingly explored in educational settings.Previous research has shown that AR can enhance learning outcomes and engagement among students.AR applications have the potential to serve as concept‐association tools to improve the learning experience. What this paper adds: This paper investigates the effectiveness of using an AR application as a mobile concept‐association tool in school settings.The study demonstrates that the AR‐assisted concept‐association strategy effectively enhances knowledge acquisition, skills outcomes, cognitive load, self‐efficacy, and learning motivation among primary school students.The findings highlight the potential of AR technology in improving learning experiences and engagement for primary school students.The study offers practical implications for integrating AR technology into educational settings, and suggests avenues for future research in this area. Implications for practice and/or policy: Incorporating AR applications as concept‐association tools can enhance learning outcomes and engagement in primary school settings.AR technology can be used to increase cognitive load, and to increase self‐efficacy and motivation among students.Educators and policymakers should consider integrating AR technology into teaching practices to improve the overall learning experience.Future research and exploration should be conducted to understand the full potential and limitations of AR technology in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study is part of a didactic experiment, which aims at establishing the application and effectiveness of the school debate, as an interactive method of teaching in Biology and Health Education in XII grade in order to form an environmental culture among students. The application of school debate as a part of interactive methods corresponding to the objectives of environmental education and upbringing of a selected methodological unit of the 'Sustainable development - strategy for preserving life on Earth' is presented, and options for its application in a specific stage of the macro structure of the lesson are proposed. The results of a questionnaire, conducted with students to explore their opinions on the application of the debate as a teaching method, are presented. The analysis of the results shows that students are motivated to actively engage in the process of learning Biology and Health Education, accept the debate as an interactive form of learning because they believe that it increases their environmental awareness and develops key skills such as, critical thinking; skills to support sustainable development; teamwork; making decisions on various environmental topics; improves the ability to analyze and evaluate the relationship between man-society-nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the article is to present the results of using interactive methods in the teaching of Biology and Health Education to 7th grade students for developing skills for a healthy lifestyle. The discussion is based on the topics: "The role of prokaryotic organisms in nature and their importance for man", "The role of unicellular eukaryotic organisms in nature and their importance for man", and "Talus plants. Seaweed". The discussion is supported by fragments of lessons in which interactive methods are used – the method of associations through creating mind maps, discussion, case study, and role play. As a result of using of interactive methods, students develop key competencies for maintaining their own health and the health of society as a whole. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life Sciences Education has become increasingly important in today's rapidly changing world, as it equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle complex global challenges in various biology fields. With the emergence of Web 3.0 and Artificial Intelligence (AI), numerous opportunities exist to revolutionize Life Sciences Education and enhance student learning. However, integrating these technologies into traditional teaching methods poses significant challenges. This paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges of Web 3.0 and AI in Life Sciences Education and provide recommendations for successful integration. The opportunities of Web 3.0 and AI in Life Sciences Education include enhanced personalized learning, increased engagement, access to vast amounts of data, and innovative assessment strategies. However, ethical concerns related to AI, integration with traditional teaching methods, training and professional development for educators, and cost and accessibility issues are among the challenges. The paper also provides case studies of successful implementation and recommendations for addressing ethical concerns, professional development, funding and accessibility, and collaboration between educators and technology experts. The paper concludes with implications for future research and practice in Life Sciences Education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether publication outcome was affected by the gender of author, handling associate editor (AE), or reviewer, and whether there was gender bias in reviewer selection, in the journal Reproduction. Analyses were carried out on 4289 original research manuscripts submitted to the journal between 2007 and 2019. Both female and male AEs appointed more male reviewers than female reviewers, but female AEs were significantly more likely to appoint female reviewers than male AEs were (p < 0.001). When examining the gender of either first or last author manuscripts, those with female authors that were reviewed by female reviewers received better scores than those with male authors that were reviewed by female reviewers (p < 0.05): where the reviewer was male, no such effect was observed. Acceptance rates of manuscripts were similar for both female and male authors, whether first or last, regardless of AE gender. Overall, there was no significant correlation between gender of first or last author, or of AE, on the likelihood of acceptance of a research paper. These data suggest no bias against female authors during the peer review process in this reproductive biology journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College instructors often teach scientific thinking by asking students to review and analyze a primary research article. The main purpose of this study was to explore how classroom response systems (CRS) could help impact the quality of written analysis papers submitted for this assignment by students taking 100-level biology courses at a medium-sized suburban, two-year college in the northeastern United States. Students in all participating course sections received written instructions on five key elements of critical analysis (CA) to include in scientific study analysis papers. Classroom instruction on recognizing these key elements in primary research papers was provided either via CRS or via an instructor-facilitated classroom discussion enhanced by the same PowerPoint presentation. A rubric, designed specifically for this assignment, was validated prior to its use in this study. Fifty students participated in the study, and those who received the CRS intervention achieved significantly higher CA scores for identifying implications of study findings, while the group that received only written instructions achieved significantly higher CA scores for discussing the credibility of the references used by the authors in planning the critiqued study. The implications of this study are discussed along with ideas for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the position that the discourses of science and morality are not distinct within biology education; rather, they inform each other to produce, discipline, and regulate human sexuality. Our analysis of the medical and moral discussion on sexuality in a secondary school science textbook (the 12th standard National Council for Educational Research and Training textbook), along with insights from interviews with teachers, reveals that the texts portray a romanticized notion of sex that is limited to a monogamous heterosexual relationship. In the first part of the paper, we analyze how the biology textbook discusses "safer sex" in the limited context of sexually transmitted diseases and how scientific knowledge produces specific sexual subjectivities and categories. In our view, the portrayal of "normal sex" in the textbook is valueladen and not inconsequential. We also examine the discursive devices employed by the textbook to assert what is considered "culturally appropriate." The second part of the paper focuses on interviews with three biology teachers from Keralam, India. Discourse analysis is used as a methodology to explore how teachers occasionally use scientific and moral arguments interchangeably. We discuss some examples where teachers use cultural and moral ideals to justify the scientific claims in the textbook. For instance, when the textbook focuses on how "promiscuity" produces disease, teachers emphasize how promiscuity can lead to sexual anarchy, fatherless children, unsatisfied spouses, and broken relations. We argue that the teachers, along with the textbook, intertwine scientific facts with moral sensibilities, articulating a view of science, technology, and medicine that aligns with socio-cultural norms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While it is evident that Ireland has the ambition to widen access to higher education, there are challenges; especially regarding the decision-making process of socio-economically disadvantaged youth when selecting subjects for transition into higher education. This is of particular concern when there are abundant science-related courses in higher education, as well as careers, which are fundamental to the global economy, and a cohort of Ireland's youth is disadvantaged in choosing this pathway. National statistics highlight the disproportionate participation rate across genders in upper secondary school science education. Extensive research has been invested in exploring supporting female access into male-dominated science fields (e.g., physics) but less so regarding male access into female-dominated science fields (e.g., biology) to achieve gender equity. Thus, this paper uses the Theory of Planned Behaviour as a theoretical framework to examine the possible psychosocial elements affecting the decision-making process of socio-economically disadvantaged male students attending DEIS schools in the Republic of Ireland and their intent to study biology as a subject at the upper secondary school level. Data collected from 344 secondary school-level students from 20 schools across nine Irish counties, and subsequently descriptively analysed, revealed that male students were considerably less likely than female students to choose biology at upper secondary level education. Many male students expressed anxiousness and hopelessness when evaluating the study of biology. Teachers were identified as lead influencers and self-efficacy was highlighted as a significant factor in male affinity to the subject. Finally, higher levels of female students' intent to study biology at upper second level suggested the familial influence of parents and wider family contributes to their overall perspective on the relevance of science to their future prosperity. Considering the various factors influencing intent, the authors suggest that a targeted pedagogical intervention that includes the promotion of self-efficacy; male student mastery experiences through assessment; emphasis on scientific knowledge; and raising the awareness of the various career pathways that studying biology affords could ameliorate this trend amongst teenage males. Additionally, targeted messaging for parents and the wider family as well as continuous professional development for teachers should be integral to any work conducted in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now affecting all aspects of our social lives. Without always knowing it, we interact daily with intelligent systems. They serve us invisibly. At least that's the goal we assign to them: to make our lives better, task by task. Artificial intelligence has the potential to make biology education more engaging, personalized, and effective by providing students with interactive simulations, personalized learning experiences, and other tools that help them understand complex biological concepts. In this paper, we discuss the integration of AI into the virtual classroom, which significantly enhances student learning experiences in various ways. The study shows that an effective integration of technology into the virtual classroom requires a thoughtful approach that aligns with educational goals and the specific needs of students. In fact, interactive simulations can help make biology more engaging and memorable for students. Besides, personalized learning AI algorithms can help biology students receive a more tailored and effective learning experience, helping them to better understand the course material and develop a deeper appreciation for the natural world. In this work, we will discuss the use of AI to enhance interactive simulation-based cellular processes, with additional application in anatomy, physiology, and ecology teaching. Moreover, this paper discusses how AI could be used to analyze student data and propose personalized learning using adaptive assessments, content recommendations, and data sciences. This paper illustrates examples of AI algorithms that could be useful for teaching biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contemporary trends of globalization and enhanced international cooperation, as well as the aim at building a knowledge-based society, have put higher education institutions in an ever-increasing public interest. The fast-developing digitalization, the implementation of artificial intelligence and especially the generational characteristics of the learners determine the need for new approaches in teaching and learning tailored to individual needs. One of them is the competence approach, which represents one of the leading pedagogical concepts of the 21st century and is the basis for the formation of ecological competence. Its application in pedagogical practice is a serious challenge for both teachers and students – future Biology teachers. The article analyses on a structural and functional basis the components of environmental competence. A theoretical model for the formation of ecological competence in the discipline "Forms and methods of ecological education and upbringing in Biology education", included in the curriculum of Master degree students is presented. The model is aimed at updating the vision of the learning process in the relevant discipline, the main part of which is environmental education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of web-based biology learning environment in improving academic performance via a meta-analysis. In looking for the studies on web-based biology learning environment, several keyword patterns from the abstracts (e.g., Pattern 1: web-based learning and biology education) were recruited in well-known databases (e.g., ERIC, EBSCO, Springer Link). Finally, 22 papers were apparent for the current meta-analysis examining the effect of web-based biology learning environment on academic performance. All statistical data from the studies were initially inserted into an Excel sheet and then imported into comprehensive meta-analysis (CMA) statistics software to calculate Hedges' g values. The overall effect-size of web-based biology learning environment pointed to a medium effect. Also, it was found that the educational level and type of experimental design, as moderator variables, did not positively affect the students' academic performance along with web-based biology learning environment. In light of the findings, it can be concluded that web-based biology learning environment is somewhat effective at improving the students' academic performance. The current study recommends that further studies should be undertaken to deepen the implementation processes of the studies with extreme values and explore what makes them unique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how biodiversity is represented at the Life in Crisis Schad Gallery of Biodiversity (Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto). Using theoretical perspectives related to science, technology, society and environment (STSE), and biodiversity in science museums, we conducted a qualitative case study of the exhibit. Data collection included records of the exhibit through photos and videos; field notes; in-depth interviews with two museum professionals; and collection of documents and artifacts. The first analytical stage, based on inductive analysis, revealed that biodiversity is being represented as an 'unknown' topic, a loss and an unfinished narrative. The second analytical stage, deductively supported by the STSE framework, reflected a prominent logical reasoning angle, through which biological perspectives are routinary reflected in the exhibit. Our analyses also revealed hints of environmental ethics, stewardship, socio-ecojustice and value-centered views often associated in the exhibit with worldwide environmental issues and the idea of generic human beings. Our study suggests that the STSE lens can provide a framework to support the work of science museums around topics like biodiversity. It also highlights the importance of bringing local perspectives to the exhibit content, engaging with critical pedagogical strategies and amplifying the concept of sociobiodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper draws upon in-depth interviews with 89 students from two UK universities to explore how students from Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) degrees describe the ideal as well as the typical student in their respective disciplines. We provide a comparative insight into the similarities and differences between disciplinary identities based on student perceptions. More specifically, we consider how undergraduates from biology, engineering, mathematics and physics construct the ideal and the typical student in their degree, highlighting the popular discourses and desirable traits that appear to characterise students in these disciplines. In addition to a masculinised construction of students in engineering, mathematics and physics, we found a social hierarchy within STEM degrees where biology was perceived as the easier STEM subject. We conclude with a discussion of the impact of such hierarchies on student identities in STEM, and potential implications for equality, diversity and inclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to ascertain non-parametric qualities of past undergraduate biology examinations questions in one Nigeria university. The study employed ex-post facto research design and involved document analysis procedure. It surveyed one hundred and seven examination question papers with a total One thousand one hundred and ninety eight mainly essay and sub-essay questions for a period of five years examination sessions from 2012/2013 to 2017/2018 but excluded 2016/2017. Using descriptive content analysis method, the study analysed the content validity and the cognitive content of the biology examination papers. Descriptive statistics, mainly percentage was used to determine the proportion of the questions set on the content of each course in context of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Abuja, Nigeria, Benchmark for Minimum Academic Standard (BMAS, 2007) and the in-use university academic prospectus undergraduate biology curriculum. The analysis revealed that 80% of the content of the biology curriculum was tested but the examination tested more of lower order cognitive abilities (knowledge and comprehensive) which constituted 76.11% with deviation +36.11, than higher order questions (23.85%) with application/problem solving constituting only1.83% The overall finding calls for further improvement in the qualities of the examination questions. Appropriate recommendations that could lead to improvement of the content validity of the examinations questions, increasing proportion of problem solving/application and broad range of higher level analytical, creative and evaluative thinking questions were made. It was concluded that the examination question papers could be considered suitable assessment tool that satisfy content validity but low towards the attainment of higher cognitive objectives of biology of the undergraduate program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What knowledge do you need to be an effective instructor? One key type of knowledge is pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), which includes awareness of how students are likely to think about a topic and where they will struggle as they learn that topic. We propose PCK as a valuable framework for reflecting on your own knowledge for teaching topics in evolution. We have created a searchable file that uses PCK as a framework to organize over 400 peer-reviewed papers from 40+ journals to give you better access to relevant resources for teaching evolution to undergraduates and advanced high school students. None of us have time to read 400 papers to inform our teaching, so we provide tips to maximize your use of this collective knowledge in the time you have available. We have written these to be useful to instructors across career stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interdisciplinary teaching and learning is an approach that synthesizes the curricular objectives and methods of two or more disciplines or subjects focusing on a specific topic or issue. While it is being increasingly implemented in universities, at lower levels of education there are still countries where science subjects are taught and learned fragmentarily. To assess the significance of the interdisciplinary approach in primary school biology teaching, the paper aims at an experimental verification of the effectiveness of this method in relation to the quality and retention of student knowledge, compared to the monodisciplinary approach to teaching and learning biology. The paper also describes a scenario for teaching a topic in which biological and geographical contents correlate. The study applied a pedagogical experiment with parallel groups. In total, 180 students attending two primary schools in the city of Novi Sad participated in the experiment and were divided into an experimental and a control group. The findings suggest that the interdisciplinary approach improved the quality and retention of student knowledge. The experimental group was more successful in completing tasks that required comprehension and practical application of knowledge. The study thus emphasizes the need for a professional curriculum development that would enhance the interdisciplinary correlation of various disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There have been numerous calls for improved pedagogical practices in biological education, and there is a clear need for such improvements in ecology and related curricula. Most ecology‐related texts lack pedagogy and are designed to be content‐rich. National initiatives, such as Vision & Change, provide guidance on undergraduate biology education, including increasing use of evidence‐based active learning, and taking a more conceptual and science practice skills approach. Biology education research is rich with evidence‐based teaching practices, which reveal that active learning approaches implemented in thoughtful ways lead to strong learning gains relative to lecture‐based course delivery. CREATE (Consider, Read, Elucidate the hypothesis, Analyze and interpret data, Think of the next Experiment) integrates evidence‐based active pedagogical practices into one approach to STEM education that focuses heavily on the process of science and science practice skills rather than content delivery by replacing the textbook with selected journal articles. The approach focuses on deep reading and analysis of primary literature; immersing students in the literature is an advantage of the pedagogy. CREATE was developed and tested in other biological disciplines (genetics and molecular biology) that have long been at the forefront of pedagogical best practices in biology. We transformed two upper‐level undergraduate ecological courses (Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity and Ecology) into CREATE courses. We provide examples of assignments, student work, and assessments of the approach, illustrating the various ways CREATE can be successfully implemented. The approach can be adopted in part, to ease into it and test it out, or in whole. We recommend that ecology teachers consider making their courses more active, if they have not already done so; adopting pedagogical practices embedded within CREATE can be a way to achieve active learning. The CREATE approach and other evidence‐based pedagogical best practices lead to strong learning gains and more inclusive learning environments. National initiatives, such as Vision & Change, provide guidance on undergraduate biology education, including increasing use of evidence‐based active learning. CREATE (Consider, Read, Elucidate the hypothesis, Analyze and interpret data, Think of the next Experiment) integrates evidence‐based active pedagogical practices into one approach that focuses on the process of science, science practice skills, and deep reading of the primary literature. We transformed two upper‐level undergraduate ecological courses (Conservation Biology, and Biodiversity and Ecology) into CREATE courses and provided examples of assignments, student work, and assessments, illustrating the various ways in which CREATE can be successfully implemented. The CREATE approach and other evidence‐based pedagogical best practices lead to strong learning gains and more inclusive learning environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can plants learn? This question stirs up controversy and speculation in the classroom, as it is currently doing in the scientific community at large. We leverage the controversy to ask students to contribute tu the greater body of knowledge by using scient(fic principles in creative research projects. Ninth-grade honors biology students became familiar with original research and the surrounding controversy, and performed experiments testing two distinct forms Of plant learning in Pisum sativum (pea) and Mimosa pudica (sensitive plant). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to investigate the challenges, faced by grade 11 and 12 teachers in the teaching of Biology in selected schools. The training of science teachers after independence till today has not succeeded in fully addressing the challenges teachers faced in the teaching of Biology. The study was guided by researchers like Lebata and Mudau [1], Makeleni, and Sethusha [2] who discovered that teachers faced challenges in the teaching of Biology because of the lack of well-equipped laboratories, limited prescribed textbooks, and overcrowded classes. The researchers use a case study design and a qualitative research approach in executing this study. A qualitative research approach was used in this study. The major findings include the lack of well-equipped laboratories and libraries, which have hindered the teaching and learning of Biology in the selected schools. The lack of adequate prescribed textbooks and overcrowded classrooms further hindered the teachers' ability to impart knowledge to their learners. Large Biology syllabus content and learners' poor attitude among others, are other challenges hindering the quality of teaching in the selected schools. We recommend that the Ministry of Education should build modern libraries and equip them with computers and internet connectivity, textbooks, and e-learning tools to help learners and teachers inculcate a culture of reading and studying. Teachers should introduce shared personal practice, and collective learning and application as used in professional learning communities. Teachers and principals should request for sponsors to build well-equipped laboratories and libraries for the schools. Teachers and principals can also request to temporally use the laboratories in other schools that have the needed facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explicates the relationship between biological function and teleology by focusing not only on difference but also on conceptual overlap. By doing so, this paper is meant to increase awareness of the misleading potential of biological function and the educational necessity to explicate the meaning of biological function to biology students to prevent them from drawing inadequate teleological conclusions about biological phenomena. The conceptual overlap between teleology and biological function lies in the notion of telos (end, goal). Biologically inadequate teleology assumes that teloi (ends, goals) exist in nature and that natural mechanisms are directed towards teloi. Such inadequate teleological assumptions have been documented in students' reasoning about biological phenomena. Biological function, however, does not involve the assumption that teloi exist in nature. Rather, biologists use the notion of telos as an epistemological tool whenever they consider a structure or mechanism functional because they view this structure or mechanism as a means to an end (telos). Whereas for biologists such means-ends conceptualizations represent a productive tool for identifying biological phenomena functionally, for students, such means-ends considerations can be misleading. Therefore, this paper explicates how far the concept of biological function involves reference to ends (teloi) and how it relates to biological mechanisms. The paper draws implications on how to prevent students from slipping from functional reasoning into inadequate teleological reasoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing availability of digital technology in biology classrooms has facilitated an on-going transition from traditional lectures to the use of multimedia tools such as videos and interactive software. While most existing educational multimedia focus on illustrating textbook concepts, few address the process of science by linking those concepts with the researchers and their studies as reported and received in the primary literature. With the support of a 2015 ESA Centennial grant, we teamed up with students and university-affiliated artists to create four original animated videos of classic ecology papers of the last century. The videos were showcased at the 2015 Centennial Meeting Sunday Plenary and continue to be available for free viewing and sharing at http://ecomotionstudios.com/. Since their debut, the videos have received over 8000 views, have been employed as educational tools in undergraduate classrooms, and have been promoted as outreach tools by science media outlets including on the homepage for the journal, The American Naturalist. Here, we argue that the potential for artistry, narrative structure, and connection to the research process make animation an invaluable and underutilized medium for sharing primary literature with students and public audiences. We envision the future of ecology as one where decreasing video production costs and the opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration available at universities lead to increased production of visual media to supplement education and broadly communicate primary ecological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An introduction is presented in which the editor discusses relationship between biology and education, biological rationalities and social theory.

Purpose: The present paper aims to examine the concept of "plant blindness" in the context of current sustainability debates. "Plant blindness" was the term introduced in 1999 by the botanists and educators James H Wandersee and Elisabeth E Schussler to describe what they saw as a pervasive insensitivity to the green environment and a general neglect of plants on the part of biology education. Design/methodology/approach: The fundamental importance of plants for life on Earth and the socio-educational challenges of redacted awareness of this importance are considered. Also, the diverse physiological, psychological, philosophical, cultural and geopolitical origins and consequences of indifference to plants in relation to aspects of sustainability agendas are examined with special reference to education. Findings: An examination of the outcomes of a range of research and practical initiatives reveals how multidisciplinary approaches to education and public engagement have the potential to address the challenge of "plant blindness". The need for these opportunities to be reflected in curriculums is not widely appreciated, and the socio-economic forces of resistance to confronting plant neglect continue to be formidable. Originality/value: Plant blindness is a relatively new field of research, and the full breadth of its implications are only gradually becoming apparent. If the present paper contributes to positioning plants as an essential element in sustainability education and practice, it will have met its objective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We used college-level evolution textbooks to examine the presentation of sexual selection research—a field with ongoing debates related to sex, sexuality and gender identity. Many classic sexual selection concepts have been criticized for androcentrism and other forms of gender-sex bias, specifically for de-emphasizing the female role in reproductive behaviors and over-reliance on gender-sex binaries. These classic concepts are fundamentally captured in the idea that animal reproductive-related behaviors can be grouped in sex roles (e.g. competitive males and selective females). Recently developed alternative concepts provide a more nuanced understanding of the flexibility of sexual and reproductive-related behaviors, stemming in part from growing attention to a broader range of female behavior. To assess whether students are receiving content reflecting these insights, we measured the congruence between textbook content and the scientific literature, using insects as a case study because of the importance of this group in the development of sexual selection theory, its prevalence in current sexual selection research, and the number of insect examples included in textbooks. We first coded textbook content for sexual selection concepts. We used automated content analysis to analyze a database of citations, keywords and abstracts in sexual selection research published between 1990 and 2014, inclusive of the period covered by the textbooks. Results: The textbooks and research literatures prioritized the same taxa (e.g., fruit flies) and sex roles as embodied in classic sexual selection theory. Both the research literature and some textbooks acknowledge androcentrism and other forms of gender-sex bias in classic sexual selection paradigms, especially competitive male and selective female sex roles. Yet, while the research literature included alternative models, textbooks neglected these alternatives, even when researchers had studied both classic and alternative views in the same insect. Conclusions: We recommend using this kind of analysis of textbook content to engage students in a conversation around the social factors that impact knowledge construction, a key part of the epistemological understanding they need for a robust grasp of the Nature of Science and of evolutionary theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionVaccines are the basis of health of our communities since they prevent severe infectious diseases. However vaccination rates continue to decrease due to the spread of misinformation about their side effects, which enhances vaccine hesitancy and puts at risk public health. Introducing vaccines from the One Health approach can help to develop an integral understanding of their role and to apply critical ignorance as part of criticality to avoid vaccine hesitancy and raise trust in science. This paper presents a design on vaccination for secondary-education teacher training developed toward this goal.MethodsThe design presented in this paper draws from previous studies on critical thinking, on vaccine rejection, and the One Health approach on other health issues in Secondary Education. The focus of this design is engaging secondary-education pre-service teachers in the practice of critical ignorance and criticality to assess diverse pieces of information on vaccination from the One Health approach.ResultsThis study discusses the design principles and the activities of an original design that aims to provide Secondary Education teachers with some tools to introduce critical ignorance and criticality for addressing misinformation on vaccines by using the One Health approach.DiscussionIf secondary science teachers are going to successfully confront misinformation on vaccination in their science instruction, we need to develop and test designs and approaches that prepare them for this purpose. Critical ignorance plays a central role in managing misinformation; thus, such instruction should engage future teachers in critical evaluation of information on vaccination, as well as in the application of the One Health approach to take responsible actions.

It has been shown that many people do not understand how scientific knowledge is built and accepted, even after scientific education. One way to deal with this problem is through teaching about the Nature of Science (NOS). NOS can be understood as a pedagogical construct aiming to foster the understanding of the main characteristics of scientific work. Recently, several researchers have advocated that we should consider pluralism within science when teaching about NOS. Accordingly, there have been efforts to develop ways of promoting instruction on NOS considering the specificity of distinct scientific fields. Aligned with this perspective, this paper aims to put forward a model for teaching NOS in the context of biological education. This model, named "Integrative Model for Teaching NOS in Biological Education" (IM-NOSBIO), is based on three pillars. The first is the Family Resemblance Approach to Nature of Science (FRA), developed by Erduran and Dagher. The second consists in the Conceptual Framework of Biology proposed by Scheiner. The third is the Pragmatic Conception of Models as Epistemic Artifacts put forward by Knuuttila. We propose that IM-NOSBIO has the potential to promote teaching and learning about different aspects of scientific knowledge and practice by taking advantage of how they present themselves in biological sciences teaching. To illustrate this potential, we offer an example of how this model can be used for teaching about certain aspects of NOS based on the history of the cell theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Formative assessment is considered to be helpful in students' learning support and teaching design. Following Aufschnaiter's and Alonzo's framework, formative assessment practices of teachers can be subdivided into three practices: eliciting evidence, interpreting evidence and responding. Since students' conceptions are judged to be important for meaningful learning across disciplines, teachers are required to assess their students' conceptions. The focus of this article lies on the discussion of learning analytics for supporting the assessment of students' conceptions in class. The existing and potential contributions of learning analytics are discussed related to the named formative assessment framework in order to enhance the teachers' options to consider individual students' conceptions. We refer to findings from biology and computer science education on existing assessment tools and identify limitations and potentials with respect to the assessment of students' conceptions. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Students' conceptions are considered to be important for learning processes, but interpreting evidence for learning with respect to students' conceptions is challenging for teachers.Assessment tools have been developed in different educational domains for teaching practice.Techniques from artificial intelligence and machine learning have been applied for automated assessment of specific aspects of learning.What does the paper add Findings on existing assessment tools from two educational domains are summarised and limitations with respect to assessment of students' conceptions are identified.Relevent data that needs to be analysed for insights into students' conceptions is identified from an educational perspective.Potential contributions of learning analytics to support the challenging task to elicit students' conceptions are discussed.Implications for practice and/or policy Learning analytics can enhance the eliciting of students' conceptions.Based on the analysis of existing works, further exploration and developments of analysis techniques for unstructured text and multimodal data are desirable to support the eliciting of students' conceptions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, teachers are expected to engage their students in authentic practices, like scientific modeling. Research suggests that teachers experience challenges when integrating modeling in their classroom instruction, with one explanation that teachers themselves lack the necessary modeling competence. Currently, theoretical conceptualizations structure the modeling competence into three dimensions: meta‐modeling knowledge, modeling practice, and modeling products. While each of these dimensions is well researched on its own and the three dimensions are commonly expected to be highly positively related, studies investigating their specific relationships are widely lacking. Aiming to fill this gap, the present study investigated the meta‐modeling knowledge, modeling practice, and modeling products of 35 secondary preservice biology teachers engaging in a black box modeling task. Data were collected with an established pen‐and‐paper questionnaire consisting of five constructed response items assessing meta‐modeling knowledge and by videotaping the participants engaging in the black box modeling task. Herein, the three dimensions of modeling competence were operationalized as five variables including decontextualized and contextualized meta‐modeling knowledge, complexity, and homogeneity of the modeling processes and a modeling product score. In contrast to our expectations and common assumptions in the literature, significant relationships between the five variables were widely lacking. Only the complexity of the modeling processes correlated significantly with the quality of the modeling products. To investigate this relationship further, a qualitative in‐depth analysis of two cases is presented. Implications for biology teacher education are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a foundational evolutionary concept, the Hardy-Weinberg principle should be taught enthusiastically in introductory biology courses. In a companion Perspectives paper, I made the case that students are often given limited or incorrect information on the HW principle due to a lack of mastery or confidence on the part of their teachers. The purpose of this Innovations paper is to identify where errors are most-often made in the set-up and solutions of HW problems. The centerpiece of this paper is a set of six biological scenarios to which students need to apply the HW principle to answer interesting evolutionary questions. I provide explanations for solving the problems (including Excel instructions with formulas to perform chi-square tests), and I identify several teachable moments that are likely to arise in the discussion of the solutions. The use of this problem set and the pedagogical strategy described in this paper significantly improved students' performance on HW problems in my introductory biology class, and I expect that they can benefit other teachers at least as much. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lab presented in this paper utilizes a proven four-step pedagogical framework (McLaughlin & Coyle, 2016) to redesign a classic Association of Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE) undergraduate lab (McLaughlin & McCain, 1999) into an authentic research experience on vertebrate fourchambered heart development and physiology. The model system is the chicken embryo. Through their research, students are also exposed to the embryonic anatomy and physiology of the vertebrate heart, the electrical circuitry of the developing heart, and the effects of pharmacological drugs on heart rate and contractility. Classical embryological micro-techniques, explantation of the embryo, surgical removal of the beating heart, isolation of the heart chambers, and more advanced tissue culture methods are also conducted. In this laboratory paradigm, students work in pairs to ask their own questions concerning the effects of two human cardiovascular drugs, denopamine? and acebutolol? on both in vivo and in vitro chicken embryonic heart rate and contractility, develop testable hypotheses based on information gathered from relevant scientific literature, devise and carry out a controlled experiment, and present the data in a professional scientific manner pertaining to a topic of clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Just a decade ago Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education: A Call to Action was released, catalyzing several initiatives to transform undergraduate life sciences education. Among these was the Partnership for Undergraduate Life Sciences Education (PULSE), a national organization commissioned to increase the adoption of Vision and Change recommendations within academic life sciences departments. PULSE activities have been designed based on the recognition that life sciences departments and faculty are embedded within institutions of higher education which, similar to other large organizations, are complex systems composed of multiple, interconnected subsystems. The organizational change research suggests that effecting large-scale changes (e.g., undergraduate STEM education transformation) may be facilitated by applying systems thinking to change efforts. In this paper we introduce the approach of systems thinking as a professional development tool to empower individual STEM faculty to effect department-level transformation. We briefly describe a professional development experience designed to increase life sciences faculty members' understanding of systems thinking, present evidence that faculty applied a systems thinking approach to initiate department-level change, and discuss the degree to which transformation efforts were perceived to be successful. Though focused on faculty in the life sciences, our findings are broadly transferable to other efforts seeking to effect change in undergraduate STEM education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty is an inherent aspect of the world we live in and is necessarily part of scientific knowledge and scientific inquiry. This paper presents a multi-case study about (1) how uncertainty occurs in the context of teaching and learning in a biology class about genetic engineering and (2) how K12 students deal with the occurring uncertainty. Designed as a Grounded Theory study, classroom observations (including videography) were combined with problem-centred interviews. Contrary to what was expected at the beginning of the study, the data did not contain considerable traces of uncertainty related to or caused by the actual genetic engineering content. Rather, it became apparent that the central phenomenon in the data related to uncertainty refers to the very norms of the biology classroom. Confronted with uncertainty the students tried to exclude the uncertain questions and situations from biology education, arguing that biology is about certain facts that should be reproduced by students. These findings are discussed relative to disciplinary cultures and the concept of habitus as well as in its relevance for the discourse about nature of science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of England, secondary biology education is dominated by sub-organismal systems, such as physiology, often to the detriment of evolution & ecology and impeding an integrated understanding of biology. This paper proposes a framework that teachers could use to help them consider how the learning of physiological and developmental systems can be combined with ecological and evolutionary thinking. Thus, keeping a balance between anthropomorphic contexts, and those of nature. The framework has two axes: physio-developmental – ecology, and contemporary – evolutionary, from which four quadrants emerge for consideration during topic design. It is proposed that topic design in general should be centred on the whole organism in its environment, which would ensure that physiological phenomena are contextualised in the organism's ecology. Furthermore, it is proposed that by pedagogical use of comparative biology, an evolutionary perspective can be integrated with organismal systems and ecology, whilst also offering more opportunities for students to discern the pattern being studied and be exposed to more non-human organisms. The framework is designed for practising teachers and would not require a radical change in pedagogy or teaching resources, but a new way of seeing the content and organisation of the course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]