Biology Teachers Research Articles

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN BIOLOGY EDUCATION

Artificial intelligence (AI) in biology education can be defined as the deployment of AI in sections of study that help learners and researchers in their areas of concentration, specifically biological sciences. It gives a significant meaning toward the improvement of biology education since AI contributes toward the improvement of research methods and the expansion of knowledge on the associated biological concepts. Continued advances in artificial intelligence as a powerful tool in biological research will prove a major boon to the further development of biology education. Traditional basic biological sciences and such interdisciplinary fields as computational biology will step up their cooperation and come up with new theoretical predictions. They develop new theoretical frameworks; all these exciting changes that are rocking the biological world today are destined to reshape the face of the education in biology in the twenty-first century.

Fostering cognitive flexibility of students through design thinking in biology education

Fostering cognitive flexibility of students through design thinking in biology education

Development of A Biotechnology Encyclopedia Based on Scientific Literacy to Improve Students' Scientific Literacy Abilities Unimed Biology Education Program

The research aimed to assess the Biotechnology Encyclopedia's suitability as a learning resource for Biotechnology students, involving material, design, and learning experts. Developed using the ADDIE model, the study included sixth-semester students from the Biology Education Program at Medan State University. Sampling involved 56 students selected through simple random sampling. Data collection utilized questionnaires, tests, and interviews, analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Material and design experts rated the encyclopedia positively but suggested minor revisions, with 72% and 86% respectively in the "good" and "very good" categories. Similarly, learning experts and lecturer responses were in the "very good" category at 94% and 85% respectively. Student responses were overwhelmingly positive, with 87% in the "very good" category without revisions. T-test results showed a significant difference in scientific literacy abilities between the experimental and control classes (9.344 > 2.002), indicating the effective impact of the Biotechnology Encyclopedia based on scientific literacy.

Biblical Perspective and Educational Domains in Sex Education: Addressing Gaps in Indonesian Sex Education

In Indonesia, sex education is delivered in public high schools as part of the biology curriculum and under the topic of reproductive health. According to the government’s view, when schools teach students properly about reproductive health, they will have a good understanding of their sexuality. Therefore, there is no need to have any further sexual education outside of the school curriculum. However, about half of the teenagers living in major cities are involved in premarital sex, and the rate of teen abortion and HIV infections is high. This article examined the implementation of sexual education in public high schools in Indonesia using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research. The survey was done on a sample of 416 students from 30 provinces and 66 cities in Indonesia. The finding support a particular approach to sex education that incorporates cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning aspects of educational taxonomy. We find that it is essential to develop a separate sex education module in addition to the current reproductive health topic taught in biology to encourage students to practice abstinence, rather than just teaching reproductive health.

Integrating mathematical modeling into synthetic biology education: a comprehensive approach through webinars and syllabus development

Mathematical modeling is a fundamental aspect of synthetic biology, enabling precise design and analysis of biological systems. To enhance students' understanding of this critical topic, we developed a series of webinars aimed at teaching mathematical modeling to iGEM teams. These webinars were initially created to maintain student engagement during a period of restricted lab access but quickly demonstrated their value as an effective educational tool. The success of these webinars highlighted the suitability of mathematical modeling as a topic well-suited to both onsite and online learning environments. Recognizing this, we expanded the content into a comprehensive syllabus for undergraduate courses in synthetic biology at the Universitat Politècnica de Valencia in Spain and Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas—ESPE in Ecuador. The course now serves as a core component of synthetic biology education, offering students a robust framework for understanding and applying mathematical models. It includes a series of lectures, practical exercises, and case studies, all designed to deepen students' knowledge and skills in this essential area. To support educators and students, we have also developed a deck of slides and example scripts that provide practical examples and reinforce the concepts taught in the course. This manuscript presents the development, implementation, and impact of these educational initiatives, demonstrating how mathematical modeling can be effectively integrated into synthetic biology curricula to prepare students for real-world challenges in the field.

Negative and Extrapositive Attitudes Towards Cold-Blooded Tetrapods Among Students of the Secondary Education Course: Ethical and Normative Aspects

The present study represents an empirical research, the purpose of which was to investigate the attitudes towards the species of the Suborder Snakes (Serpentes) and of the Order Turtles (Testudines) among adolescents. We aimed to determining the risks regarding the conservation of herpetophauna. Questionnaires were constructed, adequate to the learning objectives of the subject "Biology and health education" in the respective classes. Students from the seventh, ninth and eleventh grades in two of the schools in the city of Shumen (NE Bulgaria) were surveyed. The total number of respondents was 426, of which 198 were for attitudes towards snakes and 228 were for attitudes towards turtles. The results of the present study showed the problems in the field of protecting of the biological diversity of snakes and turtles in Bulgaria. The attitude toward snakes was clarly negative and that to tortoises was extra positive. A very low level of environmental culture was detected. The vast majority of the recipients insisted on in depth revision of the education plans in Biology. Unfortunately, the analysis of the textbooks content used for the education of the recipients, indicated on insufficient and improper selection of information concerning the reptiles. Since once established, attitudes are difficult to change, the main target group of education efforts must be concentrated on the secondary course students.

Influence of School Working Conditions of Teachers’ Turnover on Learning Achievement in Biology in Public Secondary Schools in Garissa County, Kenya

The modern propensity toward multi-disciplinary research and the alignment of scientific knowledge from different fields has led to significant overlap of the field of Biological sciences with other scientific disciplines. Modern principles of other fields such as Chemistry, Medicine, and Physics are integrated with those of Biology in areas such as Biochemistry, Biomedicine, and Biophysics, making Biology a valuable subject to humankind. However, the government’s inability to retain qualified and experienced teachers in some schools due to high turnover impacts negatively on the students’ learning achievement in this subject. This paper looks into the influence of school working conditions of teachers’ turnover on learning achievement in Biology in public secondary schools in Garissa County. The study was conducted using pragmatic worldview and adopted a convergent mixed-methods design. With a target population of 2786 respondents from 40 public secondary schools, a sample size of 387 respondents was obtained. Using stratified random sampling, 27 schools were selected from which 336 students and 51 teachers of Biology were randomly and purposively drawn respectively. Data collection was done using Biology teacher questionnaire and document analysis guide. The quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The study findings showed that school working conditions (r=0.73, p<0.05) had a positive significant correlation with students’ learning achievement in Biology. Qualitative data findings revealed that majority of the teachers intended to transfer from rural to urban schools on the basis of unsuitable working conditions and insecurity. The study concluded that school working conditions of teachers’ turnover influenced low learning achievement in Biology in the study area. The study therefore, recommended strategies that should lower teacher turnover and increase learning achievement in Biology as follows; school principals should provide good leadership and adequate instructional resources for effective teaching of Biology while the government should post security officers to every learning institution in Garissa County to safeguard the non-local teachers’ safety and security

A look at the treatment of the contents of Agroecology as a component of agricultural education in Biology 1

<p>Currently, the study of Agroecology as a component of agricultural education in the subject of Biology 1 and the treatment of its contents at the basic secondary educational level is of great importance. Agricultural education is of vital importance to achieve sustainable development, adopting environmental, economic and social policies based on agroecological principles related to food production and local development from the Cuban educational system. In this sense, it is necessary for teachers to promote and encourage students towards the use of agroecological practices to contribute to the education of current and future generations in love and respect for rurality and for the school to become an extensionist of the agrarian culture. The objective of this article is: to systematize the theoretical foundations of Agroecology as a component of agricultural education and the treatment of its contents, promoting agroecological practices on the basis of food sovereignty and security. To achieve this objective, theoretical (analytical-synthetic; inductive-deductive) and empirical (observation; documentary analysis and interview) methods were used. The importance of this work lies in seventh grade students being able to develop agroecological practices in school, family and community with a view to finding possible solutions to the problems associated with production processes to support family food security.<strong></strong></p>

ICT in biology education: teachers’ readiness and implementation challenges in the context of Bangladesh

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is commonly employed in biology classes to facilitate students' comprehensive comprehension of biological processes and enable them to see living phenomena. The purpose of the study was to explore the use of ICT in enhancing the teaching and learning process of biology in the secondary schools of Bangladesh. In our study, sequential explanatory mixed method design has been followed. Data was collected from purposively selected ten secondary schools of Dhaka city. The study reveals that teachers have a positive attitude towards incorporating ICT in biology lessons and possess operational understanding of data processing tools and online browsing. Nevertheless, it also emphasizes the fact that teachers are devoid of personal computers in their houses and have restricted availability to school computers. Furthermore, the existing curriculum and teachers' guides lack adequate instructions for integrating ICT into biology lectures. The study also suggests that the process of developing ICT-based curriculum is complicated, which deters teachers from incorporating ICT into their classes. Furthermore, there is a limited availability of educational materials related to ICT in the Bangla language. This study recommends continuous in-servicing training on ICT to teachers, interest free loan to teachers for purchasing laptops, developing interactive biology educational ICT contents in Bangla and include specific instructions in the curriculum and teachers’ guide on how to use ICT in biology classes. These findings have important implications for policy makers, educators, and researchers who are dedicated to expanding the use of ICT in education.

Teachers’ Job Satisfaction and Turnover: Re-Examining Learning Achievement in Biology in Public Secondary Schools, Garissa County, Kenya

Teachers spend lengthy periods of their lifetime in school work environments and their satisfaction in the job has crucially far-reaching implications. Besides making them feel good about themselves, job satisfaction draws on teachers’ well-being as satisfied teachers are less susceptible to leaving their positions. The aim of this paper was to evaluate teachers’ job satisfaction as a teachers’ turnover factor in influencing learning achievement in Biology in public secondary schools in Garissa County. Guided by Becker’s Human Capital Theory of Occupational Choice, the study was driven by a philosophical paradigm borrowed from the Pragmatic Worldview and adopted a convergent mixed-methods research design. The study targeted 2786 respondents comprising 2691 form three students and 95 Biology teachers from 40 public secondary schools from which 27 schools were picked through stratified random sampling. The sample size constituted 336 form three students and 51 Biology teachers obtained through simple random and purposive sampling respectively. Questionnaire and document analysis guide were used in data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Linear Regression were done. The study established that job satisfaction (r=0.67, p<0.05) had a positive significant correlation with learning achievement in Biology. The study therefore concluded that, teachers’ job satisfaction influenced learning achievement in Biology in public secondary schools in Garissa County. The study recommended strategies that should lower teacher turnover and increase learning achievement in Biology thus; re-visit salary schemes for teachers to ensure they re-visit salary schemes for teachers in public secondary schools to ensure teachers are well paid besides are well paid, teacher promotions should be streamlined and staff development opportunities enhanced.

Prospects and Challenges that Teachers and Learners Face when using Field Study in Teaching and Learning Biology Subject at Ordinary Level of Secondary Education: A Case Study of Public Secondary Schools in Morogoro Municipality

Learning that occurs in a field setting is widely recognized as a very effective approach to connect science content to the real world. It is also a powerful experience that promotes the development of learners’ scientific skills, enhances active learning and promotes enthusiasm to biology subject among students. However, teaching biology through field study encounters several challenges that impedes effective implementation in public secondary schools. Thus, this study seeks to investigate the Prospects and Challenges that Teachers and Learners Face when using field study in teaching and learning biology at ordinary level of secondary education and to establish remedial measures to address these challenges. The study uses purposive sampling to select 56 respondents from 107 population including 10 heads of public secondary schools and 46 biology teachers. The study also adopted a concurrent transformative mixed approach. Data were collected by using interview guide and questionnaire. The reliability of the instruments was tested by computing Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (α) during pilot study where inter-item correlation was proved to be r = 0.872. The qualitative data was confirmed to be credible, transferable, confirmable and dependable through trustworthiness. The quantitative data analysis was done through Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25 computer, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The study identifies institutional barriers to field study such as inadequate resources, overcrowded classes and fear of risk. Teachers face barriers such as traditional teaching styles, shortage of biology teachers, inadequate training, lack of experience, and fear of student risks. To address these challenges, the study recommends that the collaboration between school administrators, and field site management ad teacher’s training may foster a positive school culture, resource mobilization, employing more teachers, formulating supportive policies and utilizing school surroundings for study.

Integrating climate change education in higher education: insights from lecturers and students across disciplines in the Mekong Delta

This article examines the integration of climate change education (CCE) within the curricula of agriculture, biology education, and environmental studies majors at a university in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews and focus groups with lecturers and students to explore their perceptions and experiences. The findings reveal diverse pedagogical strategies, such as hands-on experiences and interdisciplinary projects, but highlight significant challenges including rigid curricula, resource constraints, and limited interdisciplinary collaboration. Students expressed a need for more mandatory and practically oriented CCE, emphasizing the relevance to their local environment. The discussion contextualizes these findings within international perspectives, comparing them to global trends and highlighting the necessity for curriculum transformation to address the identified challenges. The article concludes by advocating for a more integrated and flexible curriculum that leverages digital platforms and community engagement to better prepare students for the multifaceted challenges of climate change.

Synthetic biology education and pedagogy: a review of evolving practices in a growing discipline

Synthetic biology is a growing field with an increasing number of successful applications. Yet, synthetic biology (SynBio) education initiatives are underreported and disconnected from each other. In this review we survey the literature on SynBio education and stratify this body of work into three categories: classroom activities, course designs, and program-level curricula-planning. For each category, we discuss the methods used to assess students’ experiences and achievement of learning objectives. Throughout, we identify trends and opportunities for further development in SynBio education. We determined that the design of low-cost education kits is a growing opportunity to support student learning at the level of classroom activities. In support of that work, we present a mapping of published education kits onto Bloom’s taxonomy, taking into account increasing accumulation of knowledge through continued experience. We further found that project-based learning is used widely and has proven effective in course designs. To facilitate such activities, we provide a high-level guide for the conversion of a didactic course into a project-based learning course. Further, we note that, currently, programs are delivered primarily at the graduate level, taking inspiration from traditional degree programs while incorporating interdisciplinary training. Finally, we find that design-based research may provide an effective framework for an iterative, mixed-method study design. To support such efforts, we provide a schematic overview of design-based research and its application to a learning progression for interdisciplinary skills. We conclude with a discussion of specific learning concepts that may be useful to SynBio educators and education researchers.

Using Secondary Materials for the Creation of Biological Teaching Models

The article discusses creating educational thematic models from second-hand items in collaboration with the students. Our research aimed to assess the main aspects of knowledge of sustainable development among students. To show them the possibility and impact of reusing things in the teaching process. A questionnaire was designed using the Google platform, with 400 volunteers participating in the study. To develop the biological teaching methods, we utilized second-hand materials. The majority (70.25±2.29%) of respondents were female, and 29.75±2.29% were male. χ2 - Chi-square equals to 65.5; The P-Value is < .00001. The result is significant at p < .05. One of the questionnaires was formulated as follows: "Have you ever used second-hand items?" 84.75%±1.80 of the total number of respondents use second-hand items, and the remaining 15.25%±1.79 do not. χ2 - Chi-square equals to 192; The P-Value is < .00001. 39,5±2,91% used second-hand materials as appliances, 39,5±2,91% used them as clothes, 1,5±0,73% used them as shoes, 5,75±1,39% used them as accessories, and 30±2,73% used them as teaching materials. Additionally, 1,25±0,66% of the respondents did not use second-hand items as utensils, while 8,25±1,64% indicated using them for other purposes. χ2 - Chi-square equals to 335.34; The P-Value is < .00001. When respondents were asked whether the second-hand items could be utilized as a learning resource, the majority 88,25%±1,92, believed it was possible, while 11,75%±1,92 expressed the view that second-hand items cannot serve as learning resources. χ2 - Chi-square equals to 231. For the next stage, students and pupils were given a proposal to collect unnecessary, second-hand items and bring them to Batumi Shota Rustaveli University. Using the mentioned items, students and pupils created biological thematic models. At least 25 biological models were created following the provided instructions and were exhibited at the Scientific Picnic.

The Role of Generative Learning Strategy in Bridging the Gap between High and Low Achievers in Genetics Studies in Sefwi-Wiawso Municipality, Ghana

The study sought to investigate the use of the Generative Learning Strategy (GLS) in bridging the performance gap between high- and low-achieving students in genetics in Ghana's Western North region's capital, Sefwi-Wiawso Municipality. The study adopted an embedded research design involving the quasi-experimental pretest/posttest groups with a sample size of 106 SHS 3 Biology students. Two intact classes were randomly selected, treated as one group and exposed to the same treatment conditions. The Genetic Concepts Test and a semi-structured interview guide collected the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The GCT's internal consistency was 0.784, indicating a preferable internal consistency. The quantitative data was analyzed using the SPSS version 26, by employing descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found no significant performance difference between high and low achievers after using the GLS. The approach improved the lower achievers’ performance. The interview results revealed that Senior High School Biology students perceived that the Generative Learning Strategy improved the understanding, motivation, retention and self-directed learning of genetic concepts, thereby enhancing their learning outcomes. The study recommended that SHS Biology teachers employ the Generative Learning Strategy in teaching genetic concepts to bridge the performance gap between high and low achievers.

Developing Preservice Biology Teachers' Creative Thinking Skills Through Integrating E-Books into Problem-Based Learning

Developing Preservice Biology Teachers' Creative Thinking Skills Through Integrating E-Books into Problem-Based Learning. This research aims to find a low solution quality of teachers in North Maluku Province, Indonesia. One alternative proposed is integrating e-books into problem-based learning to see the impact on preservice biology teachers' creative thinking skills. Pre-experiment-bookstall research methodology and one group's pretest-posttest design are used. This research was carried out in 2024, and the research location was the Study Program for Biology Education, University of Khairun, Indonesia. The research subjects were preservice biology teachers. The selection of research subjects was based on the initial ability level (high, medium, low), so the number of research subjects was 6 (2 groups). The research results concluded that integrating e-books into a problem-based learning model was very effective in improving the creative thinking skills of preservice biology teachers. Further research also makes it possible to see the differences in the effect of providing learning activity links (e-books) before or after offline lectures are conducted.

Designing Student Worksheets Based on Local Wisdom Using a Detailed Learning Model Integrated Discovery Learning on Biodiversity Material

The research that has been carried out is intended to produce student worksheets, which in Indonesian are abbreviated as LKPD. for Biology Learning based on Kerinci local wisdom, which is integrated with the Discovery Learning model on biodiversity material. This research is development research using the 4D model. The subject of this research is the class used in class X SMAN 2 Kerinci which consists of small group trials (9 people) and product trials (33 people). The data collection instrument in this research was a questionnaire where, at the development stage, the student worksheets were validated by material experts and design experts and assessed through responses from biology subject teachers. The data analysis technique used in this research uses a Likert scale. The research results show that material expert validation, with a percentage of 88.33%, is in the very good category. Furthermore, the design validation results are with a percentage of 98.33% in the very good category. The research results also showed that biology teachers responded to the developed student worksheets with a percentage of 87.50% in the "very good" category. The results of the small group trial of students were 76.62% in the "good" category, while the results of the large group trial were 80.37% in the "very good" category. Based on the results of validation and field trials, the LKPD based on Kerinci local wisdom, which is integrated with the Discovery Learning learning model on biodiversity material, is good and suitable for application in biology learning, especially on biodiversity material.

Managing Misinformation

This paper catalogs previous articles in American Biology Teacher on various aspects of teaching about science misinformation and identifies which of the core concepts are addressed in each. A concise overview of relevant themes is provided, along with how the concepts align with the Next Generation Science Standards. This may serve as a practical guide for organizing and planning science media literacy education, to help students negotiate the growing flood of misinformation.

An integrated engineering worldview of synthetic biology education through the lens of webinar based pedagogy.

Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary field that brings together engineering and biology concepts alongside the arts and social sciences to develop solutions to pressing problems in our world. The education of students entering this field has relied on a diverse set of pedagogical methods to accomplish this goal. One non-profit group, iGEM-the International Genetically Engineered Machine competition, has been a driver of students' awareness of synthetic biology for the last 20 years giving many young researchers their first experience in the field of synthetic biology. Dissemination of synthetic biology concepts by iGEM has occurred through several programs including a webinar series started during the 2020 COVID pandemic. The iGEM webinar series successfully engaged students by taking inspiration from synthetic biology programs in Europe, North America, and Asia that had themselves evolved alongside iGEM. The webinar designers modeled the content after their experiences in iGEM as well as their academic courses, pedagogy, and mentoring experiences. This series has produced globally accessible pedagogy for both technical synthetic biology knowledge and the communication skills necessary to build and communicate synthetic biology projects. The hope is that this series functions as a lasting blueprint that can be used by future educators in synthetic biology and other disciplines to reduce barriers that students face when attempting to enter cutting edge fields.

Plant Chromosome and Karyotype Analysis Training for High School/MA/Equivalent Teachers in Samarinda and its Surrounding Areas

Increasing biology teachers’ comprehension of the principles of geneticsis attainable through the implementation of specialized training sessions focused onchromosome and karyotype analysis. In this training, 21 high school biology teachersfrom Samarinda and Nears participated in a structured training program encompassingthree stages. In the initial phase, participants were provided with materials on thefundamental aspects of genetics. Subsequently, in the second phase, hands-ontraining was imparted, focusing on acquiring skills in plant chromosome preparationtechniques. Lastly, the third stage concentrated on refining skills to constructchromosome karyotyping. Completing all stages was required for participants,followed by submitting evaluation forms for assessment by the committee. Theevaluation outcomes revealed that 84.30% of participants regarded the presentationand assistance provided by principal lecturer and assistants as highly commendable.At the same time, the remaining respondents expressed satisfaction with the qualityand adequacy of the training. This comprehensive training effectively equippedparticipants with specialized chromosome and karyotype analysis skills, and theparticipants notably absorbed the training materials. The anticipated outcome ofenhanced teacher understanding, specifically in the knowledge of inheritance andchromosome biology, was to stimulate heightened levels of student engagement andlearning interest within the biology classroom.