COURSE OUTLINE: ACTIVE LEARNING APPROACHES IN BIOLOGY

EDUCATION (Biol. 662)

UNIT TWO:
THEORIES & PRACTICES
UNIT ONE: OF LEARNING
INTRODUCTION 2.1 Basic ideas on learning
1.1 The Biology 2.2 Learning theories
/Perspectives
curriculum
- Behavioral , Cognitive,
1.2The subject
matter of Biology Developmental, Social and
1.3 How to approach Constructivist theories
the subject 2.3 Teaching - Learning
matter of Biology Methods
- Traditional Methods
- Active learning Methods
UNIT THREE:
CONSTRUCTIVIST’S
THEORY OF LEARNING
3.1 Definition
3.2 Basic assumptions and
principles
3.3 Frame work of
thinking and learning
3.4 Constructivist class
management

UNIT FOUR :
ACTIVE LEARNING METHODS
(ALM)
4.1 Fundamental issues in ALM
4.2 ALM to be employed in Biology
instruction
4.3 Guiding principles for selecting ALM
in Biology instruction
4.4 Teaching Biology in an active way –
model lessons
….Biol. 504 COURSE OUTLINE
UNIT FIVE :
CONTINOUS PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT OF TEACHERS
5.1 What professional development is :
principles and values
5.2 Developing skills of the
professional teacher
5.3 Linkage of the professional
Teacher with the school and the
community
5.4 Continuous Professional
development of teachers in the
Ethiopian context
 UNIT ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Biology Curriculum
❑ Curriculum is a state document , “ultimate source “ or “mother” of all
instructional plans designed by experts in line with the education policy.

❑ The biology curriculum is a guide to develop the syllabus for different

level , which should be organized with vertical and horizontal
integration of contents of biology and related subjects.

❑The Biology curriculum as a guide clearly shows

✓the knowledge ( cognitive aspect ) , skills (psychomotor aspect) and
attitudes ( affective aspect) that the teaching learning strategy focuses on.
✓ the content, depth of treatment, and the teaching – learning approaches.
 Skill /psychomotor Attitudes /Affective

✓ Identify and state problems ✓ Curiosity

✓ Formulate hypothesis ✓ Flexibility

✓ Predict from hypothesis ✓ Creativity

✓ Design and perform experiments ✓ Open - mindedness

✓ Observe, measure, record, classify ✓ Honesty

and organize data

✓Handle and manipulate scientific ✓ Demand for verification

tools
✓ Interpret data, draw conclusion and ✓ Respect to logic

propose recommendation
✓ Awareness of implication and consequences
 1.2 The Subject matter of Biology

❑ Biology attempts to investigate and understand the unity and diversity

( structural and functional ) existing with in living matter = Bioscience

❑ The living matter includes the plants, animals and microbes that are
intimately linked and interact with one another and with their
environment.
❑ As study of life, biology , provides and acquire knowledge and practical
skill to and from other basic and applied sciences .

ECOLOGICAL/BIOLOGICAL
SUSTAINABLE
SCIENCE

SOCIAL ECONOMICAL
1.3 How to approach the subject matter of Biology
❑ There are two systematic ways of approaching the subject matter

✓ In terms of level of biological organization

✓In terms of unifying principle or theme

❑ Approach in terms of level of organization

( Increasing complexity in structure and function )

ORGANISM

Cells
Organ – Systems Ecosystem/Biospere
Organelles
Organs Community
Molecules
Tissues Population
Elements

Ecology/Environmental
Cell/Molecular Biology Developmental Biology
Biology
Ecosystem/Biosphere Nutrient cycling, Global warming

Community Food chain , Association ( parasitism, epiphyte)

Population Species composition, Population size

Organism Animal behavior, Growth forms ( Annual, Biennial…)

Organ- system

Organs Heart, Lung, Root and Stem

Tissues Gland, Muscle, Cambium

Cells Mitosis , Meiosis

Organelles Mitochondrion, Chloroplast

Molecules DNA, RNA, Protein

Elements
 …. Approach to the subject matter of Biology
❑ Approach in terms of Biological Principles or unifying themes - There
are nine Biological principles or unifying themes , with wider application
at different level in the hierarchy of life.
1. CHANGE OF LIVING THINGS WITH TIME
▪ The characteristics of living things is the product of evolutionary processes
through time

2. GENETIC CONTINUITY
▪ Generations are interlinked by genetic material passed from parents to offspring.
This is perpetuation and avoids extinction of the species.

3. BIOLOGICAL ROOTS OF BEHAVIOR

▪ The behavior of the individual not only arises through learning , but also innate
and inherited from ancestors stored in hereditary material.
 …. Approach to the subject matter of Biology

4. DIVERSITY OF TYPE AND UNITY OF PATTERN

▪ Although organisms show difference (diversity), there is unity of pattern ( basic
similarity ) in structure and function.

5. ENERGY, MATTER AND ORGANIZATION

▪ Living things are highly ordered and complex matter , which is ensured
through continuous supply of matter and energy by metabolism.

6. GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND DIFFERENTIATION

▪ Living things grow , develop and differentiate by a genetic plan and influenced
by the environment
 …. Approach to the subject matter of Biology

7. COMPLIMENTARTY OF STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION

▪ The function of any part of an organism is closely related to its
structure and from its structure the function can be inferred.

8. REGULATION AND HOMEOSTASIS

▪ Living things prefer the optimum and have regulatory mechanism to adjust in
the face of changing environment.

9.COMPLIMENTARITY OF ORGANISM AND ENVIRONMENT

▪ The interaction between organism and environment at all level of organization ,
modifies both the organism and the environment.