4 Microbiome Educational Activities for the Classroom

4 Microbiome Educational Activities for the Classroom

Four different activities help educators from K-12 and undergraduate teach students about the importance of the human microbiome. Want to teach about the importance of the human microbiome, but don’t really know where to start? The ASM education blog released a post – Bring the Magic of the Microbiome to Your Classroom – pulling together four of the microbiome exercises that have been published in JMBE recently. Take a look at these different classroom microbiome activities. I especially, love that there’s one – Microbe Motels – for K-8 and am looking forward to trying it out! Check out the Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education (JMBE) published by the American Society for Microbiology (ASM). JMBE is the educational journal of the society and features excellent classroom activities. It’s open access and even FREE for members to publish in! WIN WIN!

“Gut Check:The Microbiome Game” the Reprinting!

“Gut Check:The Microbiome Game” the Reprinting!

Professionally printed version of Gut Check:The Microbiome Game available as a promotion for a limited time from Qiagen. Fecal transplant? Plasmids? Nosocomial Infections? Microbiome? Whether you’re teaching microbiology or just interested in a fun, biologically correct game for family game night, Gut Check is your game. Available for a year or so as a PDF printable, Gut Check has been revised and as is available for purchase through MOBIO for a limited time. >UPDATED 5/6/21 – Pre-printed copies of Gut Check are offered as promotional material from Qiagen. Please see the PDF printable link if you would like to download and print your own copy!< Gut Check: The Microbiome Game Overview For the uninitiated  uncolonized, Gut Check is a board game about the microbes living in your gut and how different life events affect the microbes and your health. I reviewed the game in 2015, so check that post for details. In summary, players start with a positive gut score and attempt to build their beneficial microbiome and reap its benefits while avoiding antibiotics and pathogens. Events in the game include everything from bus trips and going to work sick to eating veggie-filled pizza and synthesizing vitamins. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance

5 Thoughts for Improving Science Education from ASMCUE2016

PhD programs in science rarely include training in how to teach, much less teach effectively or write exams. Mine was no exception. Aside from a couple of workshops I sought out, my teaching “training” came from having great teachers myself. Thankfully, I’ve had a number to learn from. I also get bored easily and love to think up creative ways to get challenging ideas across to people. Finding ways to teach my 3 and 8-year-old girls about science also helps! At the American Society for Microbiology Conference for Undergraduate Educators (ASMCUE) 2016 meeting I found similar minds – educators who are creative, innovative, and passionate about discovering and sharing effective ways to teach. Even better, attendees were excited, and some perhaps even obsessed, about microscopic organisms. Totally and completely – my people. It’s amazing how much I learned from ASMCUE that will improve my science communication and teaching. Here are some favorites. Teach the students you have, not the ones you want to have.