Water is one of the most common molecules in the universe. Water is polarized, but it has many states besides the normal tetrahedron depicted in standard biology texts. Water is also the most ubiquitous molecule on Earth, the universal solvent. It is the internal and external habitat of cells. Ecologically, water is contiguous with life and the…

Recently, our course team transformed a large-enrollment introductory genetics course from being predominantly lecture based to active learning based. During class sessions, students engaged in problem solving, which occurs when a student attempts to solve a problem without knowing the path to complete it. We designed class activities…

Knowledge about genetics is essential to build a society capable of participating in socioscientific and ethical debates. However, this subject remains difficult for students, making it necessary to develop new educational strategies, such as gamification. Thus, two main objectives are established in this work: (a) to design and evaluate…

This short paper presents an educational approach to teaching three popular methods for encoding DNA sequences: one-hot encoding, binary encoding, and integer encoding. Aimed at bioinformatics and computational biology students, our learning intervention focuses on developing practical skills in implementing these essential techniques for…

Textbooks are essential learning resources for both teachers and students, but they often contain misconceptions that can affect students' understanding of key concepts, particularly in biology. Misconceptions can arise from inaccurate or incomplete information, and they may lead to incorrect conceptual understanding. The clarity and accuracy of…

In a typical undergraduate biochemistry course, two main educational objectives include (1) understanding and applying how genetic mutations can influence protein structure and function, and (2) examining metabolic pathways of biomolecules to study cellular storage and fuel. Many times, these topics can seem disparate to students; therefore, we…

Virtual Labs (vLabs) have been gaining popularity in high school and undergraduate education, but there are few studies looking at their use in graduate-level courses. In this study, we investigated the use of six Labster vLabs assigned as homework in a graduate-level in-person Genomic Methodologies course at the University of Toronto. This course…

This study aims to determine the development and feasibility of biology magazine submaterial inheritance traits as a learning media for class IX junior high school. Engaging and effective learning media can increase students' understanding and interest in the material presented. The research method used is research and development (R&D) using…

Background/purpose: Practical work is a key component of science education that can contribute to comprehensive learning and scientific literacy. This study presents the results of an Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) approach using a DNA extraction practice with 4th-year secondary education Spanish students. The findings highlight significant…

Innovative approaches to teaching genetics are essential for improving student engagement and comprehension in this challenging field. Laboratory-based instruction enhances engagement with the subject while fostering the development of practical competencies and deepening comprehension of theoretical concepts. However, constraints on time and…

Multicultural science education advocates that science education should pay attention to the uniqueness of students from different backgrounds. In developing instructional strategies, educators should respect students' differences according to their culture. However, In Taiwan, while Darwin's theory of evolution is taught in high school biology,…

The study focused on the development of a website that can be used in various fields of science in Junior High School. Particularly, topics that were utilized as part of the re-search report include chromosomes, DNA, and genes for grade 9 learners. This exploratory case study explored learners' engagement and performance on a developed virtual…

This study explored the pedagogical strategies employed by grade 12, life-sciences teachers in township schools to teach complex concepts, such as genetics and meiosis, using improvised teaching resources. Resource constraints in South African township schools often limit learners' access to traditional teaching materials and technologies. In…

This inquiry sought to investigate the opportunities and potential challenges of engaging in a self-study approach as a strategy for enhancing professional growth during my teaching of the topic of evolutionary genetics to 24 twelfth-grade students. I had, for many years, experienced pedagogical deficits and shortcomings when teaching evolutionary…

This action research aimed to enhance fluency thinking in the Year 9 Science and Technology course on Genetics by integrating bell ringer exams with inquiry-based learning. The study's objectives were to achieve an 80% pass rate in fluency thinking and to assess student satisfaction with this pedagogical approach. The sample comprised 20 Year 9…