94195 - Basics and Teaching Tools of Animal Biology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has: (a) basic knowledge to master specialist terminology and understand a medium complexity non-popular scientific text; (b) basic knowledge in the field of animal biology at a cellular, organismic and population level from an evolutionary perspective, useful for implementing knowledge in further fields of biology; also knows how to: (c) critically discuss, through formally correct exposures, biological issues related to animal biology and evolutionary aspects derived from different sources; (d) provide suggestions for teaching the various aspects of animal biology in secondary school classes.

Course contents

The course aims to dissect the epistemological structure of biology during classes, highlightin the two major levels of biological explanations: proximate causes and remote causes. The rationale on proximate causes has an intrinsic experimental approach, grounded in the cell theory as well as in genetics; the rationale on remote causes develops on huge amounts of space and time, and the theory of evolution is the main focus.

While coping with the two levels of a biological explanation, the course also aims to recall basic scientific foundations of biology, as requested by their relevance, also with reference to the secondary school teaching, including the awareness of the complexity of biological nature, which is inherently ecosystemical and connected to the abiotic properties of the environment.

Indeed, simple teaching and learning pieces of information and skills will be introduced by the course with reference to the focal, intertwined scientific disciplines, aiming to identify structuring scientific concepts and their relationships, to plan possible activities and learning sequences, and to develop a systemic vision of biology.

Namely, the following topics will be included in the combined (animal and vegetal module) course. All these topics will be discussed in terms of teaching and learning in the secondary school. Knowledge of topics covered by secondary school chemistry and biology courses is requested.

The cell: levels of organization of biological macromolecules, origin, types, structure, functions (prokaryotic, animal, plant and fungal eukaryotic cell).

Principles of biochemistry: flows of matter and energy in living things: photosynthesis, cellular respiration, exchange relationships with the outside, carbon cycle.

The cell cycle: mitotic and meiotic cell division (animal cell).

Mitotic and meiotic cell division (plant and fungal cell).

Animal organismic reproduction. Plant organismic reproduction.

Biological diversity and its bases: the biological concept of species, notes on the classification of living things, principles of genetics, mutations.

Evolution: biological evolution (historical outline and evolutionary mechanisms). From spontaneous generation to the theory of evolution by natural selection.

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching material used for the lessons, as well as articles, book chapters and other materials from the specialist literature will be provided during the course by the teacher and/or deposited on the platform Virtuale.

Suggested reference texts:

Longo, C. (2014). Didattica della Biologia. Milano: Ledizioni.

Padoa-Schioppa, E. (2018). Metodi e strumenti per l'insegnamento e l'apprendimento della biologia. Napoli: EdiSES.

Sadava, D., Hillis, D. M., Craig Heller, H., Hacker, S. (2021). Principi di Biologia. Quinta edizione italiana condotta sulla undicesima edizione americana. Bologna: Zanichelli.

Morris, J. R., Hartl, D. L., Knoll, A. H., Lue, R. A., Michael, M. (2021). Biologia. Come funziona la vita. Bologna: Zanichelli.

Any further references will be discussed with the students.

Teaching methods

Methodologically speaking, recalling the manifold key concepts of biology will take place beside their placement among proximate causes, experimentally described, and remote causes, which requires evolutionary thinking, using frontal and dialogue lessons supported by presentations with diagrams and graphic illustrations. Practical activities involve the organization of group activities, while some topics will be completed or corroborated through individual activities.

In consideration of the types of activities and teaching methods adopted, the attendance of this training activity requires the performance by all students of Modules 1 and 2 in e-learning mode and participation in Module 3 of specific training on safety and health in the places of study. Indications on the dates and methods of attendance of Module 3 can be consulted in the appropriate section of the course of study website.

Assessment methods

The learning verification takes place through the evaluation and discussion of a paper in which the didactic development of a topic chosen independently by the student and its theoretical aspects is exposed. The paper (maximum 3 pages of 2,000 characters each) can deal with a topic of animal or plant biology, or integrated between the two parts. The paper must indicate the target (or the level, the type of class), the timing of the performance, the objectives, the structure of the presentation; the contents must be consistent with the declared target. The written paper must be sent by e-mail one week before the day of the appeal to both teachers. The reflexive and integration skills of knowledge themselves, the ability to organize and transmit knowledge will be assessed; critical reasoning skills are also evaluated. Questions will follow to ascertain basic knowledge (as per program). The practical exercise activities will also contribute to the final evaluation. The two animal and vegetal modules are to be supported in the same appeal.

Teaching tools

Classrooms equipped for teaching with: personal computer, projector, touch-screen with the role of a digital whiteboard, document camera for shooting texts, drawing objects, video cameras for shooting the teacher. Classrooms and/or laboratories (1 CFU/module) are connected to the teaching, equipped for carrying out practical activities.

Office hours

See the website of Federico Plazzi