How to Introduce Microbiology to Students

Microbiology is a subject that is covered briefly throughout grade school and high school. Science classes utilize microbiology concepts by learning how to use a microscope and by learning about the role that microscopic organisms play in ecosystems. There are three steps that you will want to take when introducing microbiology to your students, they include (1) providing background information about the topic, (2) demonstrating the concept and (3) giving students the chance to work with the concept on their own.

Step #1 - Introduce the Topic of Microbiology

The first step in the introduction of any new topic of science is to give students a little information about the background of the subject. In the case of microbiology teachers will want to have their students read the section in their textbook about microbiology, or about the microbiology concept that will be discussed in class. They will then want to provide the students with supplemental information about the subject, such as introducing how it is used in the real world.

The second part of the introduction phase of a microbiology lesson plan will be to talk about something interesting related to microbiology. For example, the teacher can discuss important microbiologists, he can talk about different careers in microbiology or she can talk about the latest findings in the field of microbiology, such as the use of bacteria and enzymes to clean up toxic waste.

Step #2 - Demonstrate the Topic, Concept or Skill

After students have an understanding of the microbiology topic, concept or skill the teacher will want to present a demonstration to the class. This demonstration can be an experiment, it can be a slide show or it can be a video presentation. The purpose of the demonstration is to get the students interested in the concept and to show them how the concept is applied to various activities.

The demonstration will be introduced by the teacher, but this does not mean that he needs to monopolize all of the tasks. In fact it is a good idea to let students help with the demonstration when possible. This can be accomplished by setting it up as a group activity or as a competition or game.

Step #3 - Independent Study

The final part of the lesson plan for the introduction of microbiology is to give students the chance to explore the concepts on their own. In this phase the student will be give a task to complete on their own or in groups. There are many different learning activities that are appropriate for independent study time.

The first option is to have the students complete questions for the microbiology unit. These questions can come from the textbook or from the teacher. The next option is to have the students complete a lab exercise. Lab exercises for microbiology will usually include the creation of slides for student's microscopes and the making of observations. Students will then need to answer questions about the lab or write up a brief lab report.

Conclusion

The introduction of a science topic is something that needs to be done with care. Science is progressive in its development. This means that in order for students to do well with future microbiology units, that they will need to master the introductory concepts. Failure to do so will slow down their progress in science class which may inhibit their appreciation of science.

Written by :

Shimo