Teaching Molecular Biology at Grammar Schools: Analysis of the Current State and Potential of its Support
Abstract
It is therefore crucial to implement molecular biology into grammar school biology curriculum. The first aim of this study was to analyse how the molecular biology content is distributed into different years in School Education Programmes (SEPs) of Czech grammar schools and which molecular biology topics are included and how often.
Another aim of the study was to test the comprehensibility and attractiveness of advanced molecular biology laboratory courses for grammar school students. The implementation of molecular biology topics into compulsory and optional biology and chemistry classes in the SEPs of 160 grammar schools was evaluated together with their distribution into different years.
The data was analysed by a cluster analysis and subsequent chi-square test for independence. During years 2011-2013, we organized four different types of laboratory courses focused on molecular biology topics.
The laboratory courses took place at the Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague or at participating grammar schools and were taught by a university lecturer or a grammar school biology teacher. Students who participated in the courses (n = 466) filled in an evaluation questionnaire at the end of the laboratory exercise.
The data was analysed by the analysis of variance. The results indicate that molecular biology topics in the SEPs are mostly included in a single year (usually the last year of compulsory biology and chemistry education).
Some of the topics were not included in the majority of compulsory classes and were found mainly in optional classes. The practical laboratory courses were rated very positively by students.
Significant differences were found in ratings of different types of courses. Student ratings were also dependent on other variables (lecturer, site of the course).
Based on the results, our conclusion is that molecular biology should be implemented in the grammar school curriculum much more with the support of advanced laboratory courses.