Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature

ABSTRACT Introducing students to primary scientific literature is essential for establishing scientific literacy; however, students can feel overwhelmed by the amount of information within a research article. In our virology discussion courses, we address this issue by creating a student-centered an...

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Main Authors: Camilla E. Hippee, Aloysius Klingelhutz, Li Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00184-24
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author Camilla E. Hippee
Aloysius Klingelhutz
Li Wu
author_facet Camilla E. Hippee
Aloysius Klingelhutz
Li Wu
author_sort Camilla E. Hippee
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Introducing students to primary scientific literature is essential for establishing scientific literacy; however, students can feel overwhelmed by the amount of information within a research article. In our virology discussion courses, we address this issue by creating a student-centered and active learning environment. Students present and guide discussions on the rationales, background, methods, results, and conclusions from research literature in class. This approach has been applied in both undergraduate and graduate settings for students studying microbiology, with different expectations and criteria between the two groups. Student evaluations collected from three semesters were positive toward the teaching methods. Students praised the inclusion of “landmark discovery” articles, which examined paradigm-shifting concepts in virology. Undergraduates expressed their increased confidence in comprehending scientific literature and highlighted the impact of group work. In a critique of the course, students suggested more variety in the topics covered and inclusion of recent publications. Overall, our enhanced approach and methods improved student experiences with primary scientific literature and promoted student learning.
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1935-7885
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series Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
spelling doaj-art-57e5301060cc488cac3ccadc7f8fef602025-08-20T01:58:45ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852024-12-0125310.1128/jmbe.00184-24Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literatureCamilla E. Hippee0Aloysius Klingelhutz1Li Wu2Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USADepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAABSTRACT Introducing students to primary scientific literature is essential for establishing scientific literacy; however, students can feel overwhelmed by the amount of information within a research article. In our virology discussion courses, we address this issue by creating a student-centered and active learning environment. Students present and guide discussions on the rationales, background, methods, results, and conclusions from research literature in class. This approach has been applied in both undergraduate and graduate settings for students studying microbiology, with different expectations and criteria between the two groups. Student evaluations collected from three semesters were positive toward the teaching methods. Students praised the inclusion of “landmark discovery” articles, which examined paradigm-shifting concepts in virology. Undergraduates expressed their increased confidence in comprehending scientific literature and highlighted the impact of group work. In a critique of the course, students suggested more variety in the topics covered and inclusion of recent publications. Overall, our enhanced approach and methods improved student experiences with primary scientific literature and promoted student learning.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00184-24primary science literaturevirologystudent presentationsundergraduate educationgraduate educationscience literacy
spellingShingle Camilla E. Hippee
Aloysius Klingelhutz
Li Wu
Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
primary science literature
virology
student presentations
undergraduate education
graduate education
science literacy
title Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
title_full Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
title_fullStr Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
title_full_unstemmed Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
title_short Student-led discussions of landmark discovery articles: a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
title_sort student led discussions of landmark discovery articles a foothold in teaching primary virology literature
topic primary science literature
virology
student presentations
undergraduate education
graduate education
science literacy
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00184-24
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AT aloysiusklingelhutz studentleddiscussionsoflandmarkdiscoveryarticlesafootholdinteachingprimaryvirologyliterature
AT liwu studentleddiscussionsoflandmarkdiscoveryarticlesafootholdinteachingprimaryvirologyliterature