Biology Commons^™

Junior High School Students’ Understanding Of Pathogenic Microbes In The School Environment: A Cross-Grade Descriptive Study At Smp Alkhairaat 1 Palu, Feren Febrianti, I Nengah Kundera, Yulia Windarsih, Mohammad Jamhari, Mursito S. Bialangi, Abdul Ashari

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aimed to describe students’ understanding of pathogenic microbes and compare descriptive comprehension profiles across Grades VII, VIII, and IX at SMP Alkhairaat 1 Palu. A quantitative descriptive approach was employed involving 49 students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an essay test as the primary instrument, supported by semi-structured interviews and observations of the school environment. The essay test assessed three indicators: conceptual knowledge of pathogenic microbes, understanding of disease transmission mechanisms, and understanding of clean and healthy practices for preventing the transmission of pathogenic microbes. Test data were analyzed descriptively using mean percentage scores, while …

The Ability Of Biology Teachers Of State Madrasah Aliyah In Palu City In Developing Teaching Modules In Merdeka Curriculum, Ulya Afifa, Gamar B. N Shamdas, Syech Zainal, Bustamin Bustamin, Raya Agni, Rafiqa Rafiqa

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Teachers’ ability to develop teaching modules is essential for implementing the Merdeka Curriculum because it enables curriculum expectations to be translated into flexible and context-responsive learning. This study aimed to describe Biology teachers’ ability to develop teaching modules at State Islamic Senior High Schools (Madrasah Aliyah Negeri [MAN]) in Palu City and to identify the factors supporting or constraining this ability. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with seven Biology teachers from MAN 1 Palu, MAN 2 Palu, and MAN Insan Cendekia Palu during February–March 2026. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, documentation, and analysis of teaching modules using …

The Use Of Gadgets And Learning Motivation Among Grade Xi Students In Biology Learning At Sma Negeri 5 Palu, Yulia Citra, Mohammad Jamhari, Masrianih Masrianih, Lestari M.P Alibasyah, Mursito S. Bialangi, Yulia Windarsih

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to describe the profile of gadget use and learning motivation among Grade XI students in biology learning at SMA Negeri 5 Palu and to explore students’ and teachers’ experiences of gadgets as learning support tools and potential sources of digital distraction. A qualitative descriptive design was employed, supported by descriptive questionnaire profiling. A total of 74 students completed a 50-item questionnaire on gadget use and learning motivation, while 10 students and two biology teachers participated in semi-structured interviews. Questionnaire data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, while interview data were analyzed thematically. The descriptive findings showed that …

Readiness Of Biology Teachers In West Palu District In Implementing The Deep Learning Approach In The Merdeka Curriculum, Mutia Mutia, Gamar Shamdas, Hayyatun Mawaddah, Rafiqa Rafiqa, Raya Agni, Musdalifah Nurdin

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aimed to examine the readiness of biology teachers in West Palu District to implement the deep learning approach within the Merdeka Curriculum and to identify factors associated with their readiness. A descriptive quantitative approach was employed, with data collected through questionnaires and interviews. The study involved all six biology teachers who were actively teaching at senior high schools in West Palu District. Teacher readiness was examined across cognitive, mental, and physical dimensions. The results indicated that the teachers were generally ready to very ready to implement the deep learning approach. Cognitive readiness was particularly high, with 60% of …

Broadening The Community Of Nudibranch Enthusiasts Through Multilingual Educational Programming To Increase Climate Advocacy Engagement, Richelle Li Tanner, Cintya Felix Mendivil, Ashley Lam, Lorena Muñoz, Micah Kim, Elena G. Morales Poot, Gabrielle Keeler-May

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Environmental literacy and advocacy for environmental protections are essential components of responsible stewardship. For coastal communities, stewardship requires knowledge of ocean processes and the biological communities living within these ecosystems. While many studies highlight difficulties in engaging American audiences in environmental concern and stewardship due to hyper-individualistic societal values, tidepooling is one recreational pathway to coastal community engagement that strengthens sense of place, and therefore, responsibility to protect natural resources. We sought to broaden the tidepooling community to include more diverse voices through a participatory science program with inland city-dwelling, multilingual, and non-English speaking adults. Using nudibranchs as an environmental …

Cultivating Collaboration In Biomolviz: Key Attributes For Building A Stem Educator Community Of Practice, Pamela S. Mertz, Charmita Burch, Roderico Acevedo, Josh T. Beckham, Didem Vardar-Ulu, Kristin M. Fox, Lauren A. Genova, Rachel M. Mitton-Fry, Swati Agrawal, Daniel R. Dries, Kristen Procko

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

BioMolViz is an educational community of practice (CoP) focused on creating resources to improve biomolecular visual literacy instruction and assessment. The community of life science instructors developed in three phases, beginning with a small Core Team that emerged from a conference session and established the domain of interest for the CoP. In-person workshops, supported by short-term funding, drove the initial expansion of the community and the development of shared activities in Phase 2. This CoP was sustained through intentional choices about how members interact, collaborate, and share work. As the community matured in Phase 3, it was supported by longer-term …

Asm And A Culture Of Sharing, Caring, And Fun In Education, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

One doesn't always equate a professional scientific society with sharing, caring, and fun, but in this age of public distrust, public engagement with science and active student learning are ways to regain trust. ASM holds a leadership position in promoting and recognizing the value of education in the future of our profession and is there to support your educational journey. From K12 outreach and public engagement, to professional development, to presenting and publishing scholarship of teaching and learning, ASM has been at the forefront of biology education. Under the leadership of visionary directors such as Amy Chang and now Irene …

Secondary Biology Teachers’ Understandings Of Growth Mindset, Kathryn Chapman

Dissertations

This case study investigates how high school biology teachers understand and apply growth mindset principles in their daily instruction. Using surveys, semi‑structured interviews, and focus groups, the study examines how biology teachers interpret mindset, how they attempt to enact it, and how curriculum demands shape their efforts. Findings show that teachers’ beliefs about intelligence strongly influence their feedback, expectations, and instructional decisions. Teachers described biology as a subject in which struggle is highly visible, emotionally charged, and often tied to students’ prior knowledge, making mindset work both necessary and challenging. Results also indicate that students’ mindsets are shaped by broader …

Using “You” As A Subject In Biology Assessment Questions: Examining Student Preferences For Second-Person Framing, Noelle Clark, Kate Hill, Jeremy L. Hsu

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

In college biology courses, exams and quizzes are often used to assess students’ knowledge and performance. Since assessments are a crucial part of biology classes, there has been a wide range of work examining how assessment questions are written, revealing that small changes in how such questions are worded may have large impacts on students’ reading comprehension and performance. One aspect that instructors consider when writing a question is subject framing, i.e., which individual, if any, is being placed as the focal point of the question. In this study, we focus on the following subject framings, an authentic scientist, a …

The Effect Of Project-Based Learning Model On Entrepreneurship (Pjbl-E) With A Deep Learning Approach On Students' Problem-Solving And Cognitive Skills, Ricce Oktasari, Irwandi Irwandi, Siti Darwa Suryani

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to examine the effect of the Entrepreneurship-based Project Based Learning (PjBL-E) model integrated with a pedagogical Deep Learning approach on students’ problem-solving skills and cognitive learning outcomes in biology learning. The novelty of this study lies in the integration of entrepreneurship values and pedagogical deep learning principles into Project Based Learning to create contextual and meaningful learning experiences. Entrepreneurship integration encourages students to develop innovative products, identify real-world problems, and apply biological concepts in practical and socio-economic contexts. Meanwhile, the pedagogical Deep Learning approach promotes reflective thinking, conceptual understanding, critical analysis, and the ability to connect theory …

Student Worksheets Based On The Local Wisdom Of Besilek Serawai For Sixth-Grade Elementary Science Learning, Mice Agustin, Tomi Hidayat, Irwandi Irwandi

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to develop a Student Worksheet (Lembar Kerja Peserta Didik [LKPD]) based on the local wisdom of Besilek Serawai for sixth-grade elementary science education and to evaluate its validity. The study employed the ADDIE development model, consisting of five stages: Analyze, Design, Develop, Implement, and Evaluate. The developed LKPD integrates Besilek Serawai, a traditional martial art of the Seluma community, with the concept of the human locomotor system in science instruction. The worksheet was validated by two subject-matter experts and two media experts. Material validation yielded an average score of 4.26, equivalent to a validity percentage of 85.2%, …

The Effect Of Discovery Learning Model On Students’ Critical Thinking Skills In Biology Learning At Sman 1 Dampelas, Umiyatul Rahma, Mursito S. Bialangi, Amalia Buntu, Fatma Dhafir, Raya Agni, Gamar B. N Shamdas

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Critical thinking skills are essential in biology learning; however, many classroom practices remain teacher-centered, limiting students’ opportunities to engage in higher-order thinking processes. Although previous studies have reported the potential of Discovery Learning to enhance critical thinking, evidence regarding its effectiveness in secondary biology education remains limited, particularly in the context of Indonesian high schools. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of the Discovery Learning model on students’ critical thinking skills in biology learning at SMAN 1 Dampelas. A quasi-experimental study employing a nonequivalent control group design was conducted with 48 Grade XI science students, consisting of 24 …

Beyond The Best Fit: Fitting Sir-Style Models To Data While Prioritizing Biological Meaning, Meredith L. Greer

CODEE Journal

Many students find comfort in mathematics because math classes have been a place where they can find the “right answer” to exercises. Modeling courses typically emphasize more nuance, teaching students to try modeling approaches, compare back with real-world mechanisms and data, and then refine their models, in an ongoing cycle. One topic, however, can cause students to quickly revert into “right answer” mode: fitting a model to data. Phrases such as best fit and minimize the distance suggest there is one optimal solution that can be determined by an algorithm, and these algorithms typically have no relationship to the biology …

Soil Nutrients And Composting (Lesson 3), Mara Johnson, Jiyul Chang, Madhav P. Nepal

iLEARN Teaching Resources

In this lesson, students investigate how nutrient cycling contributes to soil health and agricultural sustainability. Building upon previous lessons on the Three Sisters planting system and soil health analysis, students explore composting as a strategy for restoring nutrients in soils. Students learn the roles of carbon-rich "browns" and nitrogen-rich "greens" in decomposition and construct miniature composting systems using locally available organic materials. Through observation, data collection, and long-term monitoring, students analyze how microorganisms recycle nutrients and convert organic matter into fertile soil amendments. Students connect composting to traditional ecological knowledge, food sovereignty, environmental stewardship, and sustainable agriculture while evaluating how …

A Tale Of Two Mammals: Tenrec Ecaudatus And Homo Sapiens, Debra Renee Kerr

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Most modern mammals maintain stable body temperatures (Tb) ~37ºC and high metabolic rates. Hibernators, like ground squirrels, are homeothermic during the active summer season, but are heterothermic during the hibernation season. During the hibernation season, ground squirrels follow a predictable pattern of torpor bouts interrupted by interbout arousals. Tenrecs are unusual because they are heterothermic and heterometabolic even during the active season. Previously, ground squirrel bile constituents were shown to be predictive of whether a squirrel is in the summer active or winter hibernation season. We found tenrec bile constituents were highly variable and not predictive of seasonal and metabolic …

Survey Of Student Perceptions And Use Of Artificial Intelligence When Reading Primary Literature In The Biological Sciences, Erin L. Zimmer, Michael I. Zimmer

Biology Department Faculty Articles

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are increasingly used by students in higher education, yet little is known about how they are applied when reading primary scientific literature. This study investigated how undergraduate biology students use AI while engaging with primary research articles and how such use influences confidence, engagement, and perceived learning. Using a mixed-methods design across two institutions, we collected pre-course surveys assessing prior AI experience and attitudes, weekly self-reported AI usage logs during a semester-long primary literature–based course, and post-course surveys evaluating changes in practices and perceptions. Students entered the course with broad familiarity with generative AI but expressed …

Virtualizing Practical Science Education: A Sociological Analysis Of Undergraduate Teaching And Learning, Sina J. Fakoyede, Femi E. Babalola, Oluwatoyin T. Obateru, Oluwayemisi D. Akomolafe, Deborah O. Alabi, Stella K. Ekundayo

Higher Learning Research Communications

Objectives: The study aims to investigate the perspectives of university teachers and students on integrating practical science teaching with virtual learning in a multicultural and diverse society, specifically within the context of southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving data collection from 100 university lecturers and 400 undergraduate students across 10 universities. Qualitative data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with lecturers and focus group discussions with students. Quantitative data were obtained via structured questionnaires, allowing for triangulation and comprehensive analysis.

Results: Findings revealed that certain lecturers showed preferential support influenced by students’ cultural backgrounds or academic behavior during …

The Influence Of Prosthetic Obturators On Quality Of Life In Individuals With Maxillectomy Defects, Minseok Kim

Oral Health

Abstract

Introduction: In recent years, there has been a growing focus on understanding the impact of oral cancer on patients' quality of life. Prosthetic rehabilitation techniques, such as maxillary obturators, often in conjunction with reconstructive surgery, have emerged as interventions to address the challenges posed by post-maxillectomy abnormalities.

Objective: This study aims to systematically review and evaluate the effectiveness of maxillofacial prosthetic rehabilitation using obturators in enhancing the quality of life of patients following maxillectomy.

Methodology: Systematic review of identified literature spanning the timeframe from 2000 to 2020 was used. The comprehensive search encompassed widely recognized databases including PubMed, …

Identifying And Coping With Failure In Human Anatomy & Physiology I And Ii Students, Annie R. Mueller

Honors Theses

Human Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) is a two-semester course that focuses on the structure and function of the human body systems. For many students, A&P could be their first challenging undergraduate course and their first experience with academic difficulty. Students must learn to adapt their study habits and respond productively to academic failure. The purpose of this study was to examine how students in the A&P courses at the University of Mississippi perceive and cope with academic failure, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention method. Students enrolled in BISC 206 and BISC 207 participated in three …

The Undergraduate Education And Scientific Literacy: Exploring How College Influences Student Perception Of Covid-19 Events, Peyton Brooking

Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects

Current undergraduate students received much of their education following the events of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of these students experienced pandemic events before receiving any or most of their science-based higher education. Exploring their progress through higher education, and how it retroactively influenced their perception of pandemic events, serves as an informative research area. This study explores how undergraduate education in the sciences influences student engagement with complex recent events in science. In addition, this study asked how higher education builds confidence in interpreting this information. Additionally, students were surveyed to understand their scientific literacy baseline at the beginning of …

Exploring Student Sensemaking During A Collaborative Biology Lab, Rebecca Kollipara

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Collaborative learning environments offer valuable opportunities for students to construct scientific understanding through dialogue, yet the conditions that support sustained conceptual reasoning in group settings remain incompletely understood. While prior research has identified discourse moves associated with productive collaboration, less attention has been paid to how those moves function together across turns and conceptual boundaries, or how individual student characteristics shape their emergence. This thesis examines collaborative sensemaking in an undergraduate General Biology II course, drawing on two complementary analyses of student discourse during a bryophyte life-cycle modeling activity.

Chapter 1 investigates how student groups participated in sensemaking and how …

Una To Put Names On 2 Buildings, Jennifer Edwards

Documents

the naming of the Academic Commons Building and the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

The Science And Technology Building University Of North Alabama, Barbie Hampel-University Advancement

Documents

Brochure and floor plans for the New Science and Technology Building at UNA

University Of North Alabama Science And Technology Building Grand Opening And Ribbon Cutting, University Of North Alabama

Documents

Invitation to the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for the new Science and Technology Building at UNA

Reading Literacy Research Trends In Science Learning (2015–2025), Siwi Handayani, Siswanto Siswanto, Rina Rahayu

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study aims to analyze research trends in reading literacy within science learning from 2015 to 2025 through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) framework. The initial screening of 150 articles from the WoS Core Collection and SINTA databases yielded 29 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis focused on publication dynamics, contributing countries, participant characteristics, research variables, and the science subjects investigated. The findings indicate that research on reading literacy in science learning remains limited and shows fluctuating development. Most publications originate from national journals indexed by SINTA, …

Florence State Prepares For Jet Age Needs With New, Expanded Facilities, Tommy Hill

Documents

News article from The Birmingham News about the expanded facilities at Florence State College

Scientist Floyd Retires At Florence State, Jack Bridges

Documents

Dr. Homer H. Floyd's retirement from Florence State College

Biosensors For Biomedicine, Drake O'Leary

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This project investigated the use of engineered bacterial reporter systems to detect cellular stress responses associated with antibiotic activity. While constructs were successfully introduced and tested against known antibiotics, the reporter consistently produced a blue signal across conditions, limiting the ability to distinguish specific stress responses. This suggests issues such as leaky expression, insufficient regulatory control, or lack of specificity in the reporter design. Although results were inconclusive, this work highlights key challenges in developing reliable biosensors and provides a foundation for future optimization. Improving signal specificity and reducing background expression will be critical for enabling accurate characterization of antibiotic …

An Overview Of Herpetofauna Surveys At Fort Leavenworth Military Reserve., Zane Smith, Sandra Guzman-Duran

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Herpetofauna surveys focused on Crayfish Frog, Spring Peeper, Eastern Tiger Salamander, Red-Bellied Snake, and Smooth Earth Snake were conducted concurrently with Bush Honeysuckle removal projects on the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation.  Survey techniques included coverboard arrays, adaptive hunt drift fences, traditional pit fall traps and visual encounter surveys and were conducted between May and August in 2024 and 2025. The survey effort resulted in the detection of one of the target species, the Smooth Earth Snake. Based on our survey results we are confident that the Crayfish frog and Spring Peeper do not occur on Fort Leavenworth Military Reserve, but …

Abundance Of Microplastics In The Water And Stream Fish Of Big Walnut Creek, David J. Hartman

Undergraduate Honors Thesis Projects

Microplastics are a major threat to both ecosystem and human health. In this study, I investigated the abundance of microplastics at five sites along Big Walnut Creek, Ohio including sites upstream, downstream, and within urban development. Samples were taken from the stream surface water and fish at each site. Microplastics were detected in the surface water and fish at all five sites with a total of 383 microplastic particles found in the 157 fish collected for this study. The mean concentration for all sites was 80.8 particles/m3 in the surface water and 2.4 particles per fish. Microplastics were almost entirely …