Transforming a cookbook undergraduate microbiology laboratory to inquiry based using a semester-long PBL case study

• DOI: 10.1152/advan.00167.2018
• Publication Date: 2019-01-29T14:09:24Z
• Authors: Vicky Nicolaidou; Persoulla Nicolaou; Stella A. Nicolaou
• Keywords: Technician; Facilitator; Laboratory Safety

Microbial physiology is a basic course taught throughout biomedical science disciplines. Students study the structure, growth, and metabolism of microorganisms often find it difficult to learn information, usually because they fail see wider applications. The current microbiology laboratory series describes how transform "cookbook" undergraduate an inquiry-based one by incorporating problem-based learning. students use food poisoning case that develops over seven experiments take on role technician who responsible for coming up with answer submitting report clinician. provides coherence sessions, are given opportunity about, practice, common techniques would encounter in clinical laboratory. Those include aseptic method, cultivation bacteria, quantification bacteria culture, isolation pure morphological observation light microscopy, Gram staining, selective differential media, effectiveness variety antimicrobials antibiotics. This has been designed so can be implemented any setting, using simple materials inexpensive, nonspecialized equipment. carried out small groups, facilitator may tutor two groups 10 at time. method successfully past 2 yr, demonstrated greater motivation learning understanding.