New Teaching Strategies to Improve Student Performance in Fundamentals of Biotechnology

Fundamentals in Biotechnology is part of the Chemical Engineering curriculum at the National University at Salta, in northwest Argentina. This course, given for four months in the fourth year of a five-year program of study, includes concepts of general microbiology, biochemistry, and industria...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alicia G. Cid, Verónica B. Rajal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2011-03-01
Series:Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/247
Description
Summary:Fundamentals in Biotechnology is part of the Chemical Engineering curriculum at the National University at Salta, in northwest Argentina. This course, given for four months in the fourth year of a five-year program of study, includes concepts of general microbiology, biochemistry, and industrial microbiology and is the first contact by the students with biological issues. Probably due to the long content of the course and to the lack of previous knowledge of biological and microbiological concepts, students have a lot of difficulty passing this course. In order to reach a better understanding of the concepts, to encourage students to learn biotechnology, and to develop critical thinking skills with the ultimate aim of improving performance, two new strategies were adopted, which consisted of including “Complementary Activities” and an “Integration Seminar.”
ISSN:1935-7877
1935-7885