Systems modelling and the development of coherent understanding of cell biology

This article reports on educational design research concerning a learning and teaching strategy for cell biology in upper-secondary education, introducing systems modelling as a key competence. The strategy consists of four modelling phases in which students subsequently develop models of free-living cells, a general 2-D model of cells, a 3-D model of plant cells and finally they are engaged in formal thinking by modelling life phenomena to a hierarchical systems model. The strategy was thought out, elaborated and tested in classrooms in several research cycles. Throughout the field-tests, research data were collected by means of classroom observations, interviews, audio-taped discussions, completed worksheets, written tests and questionnaires. Reflection on the research findings eventuated in reshaping and formalizing the learning and teaching strategy, which is presented here. The results show that although acquiring systems thinking competence at the metacognitive level needs more effort, our strategy contributed to improving learning outcomes, i.e. acquisition of a coherent conceptual understanding of cell biology and acquisition of initial systems thinking competence, with modelling being the key activity

Planning the perfect wedding

To determine what knowledge of genetics is needed for decision-making on genetic- related issues, a consensus-reaching approach was used. An international group of 57 experts, involved in teaching, studying, or developing genetic education and communication or working with genetic applications in medicine, agriculture, or forensics, answered the questions: BWhat knowledge of genetics is relevant to those individuals not professionally involved in science?^ and BWhy is this knowledge relevant?^ The answers were classified in different knowledge components following the PISA 2015 science framework. During a workshop with the partici- pants, the results were discussed and applied to seven cases in which genetic knowledge is relevant for decision-making. The analysis of these discussions resulted in a revised framework consisting of nine conceptual knowledge components, three sociocultural components, and four epistemic components. The framework can be used in curricular decisions; its open character allows for including new technologies and applications and facilitates comparisons of different cases

Organ donation and the attitude-behaviour gap

Basten M, Wilde M. Organ donation and the attitude-behaviour gap. In: Hammann M, Waarlo AJ, Boersma K, eds. The Nature of Research in Biological Education - Old and New Perspectives on Theoretical and Methodological Issues. A selection of papers presented at the 7 th Conference of European Researchers in Didactics of Biology (ERIDOB). Freudenthal Institute for Science and Mathematics Education, Utrecht University; 2009: 89-106

Considering Grand Challenges in Biology Education : Rationales and Proposals for Future Investigations to Guide Instruction and Enhance Student Understanding in the Life Sciences

An international group of biology education researchers offer their views on areas of scholarship that might positively impact our understanding of teaching and learning in biology and potentially inform practices in biology and life science instruction. This article contains a series of essays on topics that include a framework for biology education research, considerations in the preparation of biology teachers, increasing accessibility to biology for all learners, the role and challenges of language in biology teaching, sociocultural issues in biology instruction, and assisting students in coping with scientific innovations. These contributions are framed by a discussion of the value of defining several potential “grand challenges” in biology education