From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools
ABSTRACT Raising citizens’ awareness of the importance of microbiology in everyday life is crucial, especially considering the recent societal challenges such as emerging diseases or antibiotic resistance. Integrating this awareness into secondary education is essential, yet teaching microbiology re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00107-25 |
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| author | Lara Raquel Pinto Amorim Betina da Silva Lopes Raquel Henriques Ramalho Ribeiro Maria da Conceição Lopes Vieira dos Santos |
| author_facet | Lara Raquel Pinto Amorim Betina da Silva Lopes Raquel Henriques Ramalho Ribeiro Maria da Conceição Lopes Vieira dos Santos |
| author_sort | Lara Raquel Pinto Amorim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Raising citizens’ awareness of the importance of microbiology in everyday life is crucial, especially considering the recent societal challenges such as emerging diseases or antibiotic resistance. Integrating this awareness into secondary education is essential, yet teaching microbiology requires alignment with national curricula. To evaluate how microbiology is incorporated into education, we analyzed and compared the life sciences/biology curricula of Portuguese, Spanish, and French secondary schools. Our findings reveal significant differences in how microorganisms, their functions, and applications are addressed. We highlight aspects of the Spanish and French curricula that could enhance microbiology education in Portugal, as well as challenges in including microbiology into existing curricula. Additionally, we review the state of the art of microbiology education, including ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting both teachers and students. To strengthen student engagement, we propose stronger collaboration between academia—comprising professors, researchers, and master’s/PhD students—schools, and science communication institutions. In this context, we present the conceptual framework of the EduBiota program, designed for Portuguese students/teachers and citizens, with a focus on the human microbiota. The program offers a combination of state-of-the-art knowledge, in-person and online, resources, and mini projects led by university students and researchers, ensuring accessibility and relevance for both schools and the broader community. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b66533bf7a7a4d3380d91998571c7986 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1935-7877 1935-7885 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-b66533bf7a7a4d3380d91998571c79862025-08-21T13:02:44ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education1935-78771935-78852025-08-0126210.1128/jmbe.00107-25From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schoolsLara Raquel Pinto Amorim0Betina da Silva Lopes1Raquel Henriques Ramalho Ribeiro2Maria da Conceição Lopes Vieira dos Santos3Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalCIDTFF—Research Center in Didactics and Technology in Teacher Training, Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, PortugalABSTRACT Raising citizens’ awareness of the importance of microbiology in everyday life is crucial, especially considering the recent societal challenges such as emerging diseases or antibiotic resistance. Integrating this awareness into secondary education is essential, yet teaching microbiology requires alignment with national curricula. To evaluate how microbiology is incorporated into education, we analyzed and compared the life sciences/biology curricula of Portuguese, Spanish, and French secondary schools. Our findings reveal significant differences in how microorganisms, their functions, and applications are addressed. We highlight aspects of the Spanish and French curricula that could enhance microbiology education in Portugal, as well as challenges in including microbiology into existing curricula. Additionally, we review the state of the art of microbiology education, including ongoing initiatives aimed at supporting both teachers and students. To strengthen student engagement, we propose stronger collaboration between academia—comprising professors, researchers, and master’s/PhD students—schools, and science communication institutions. In this context, we present the conceptual framework of the EduBiota program, designed for Portuguese students/teachers and citizens, with a focus on the human microbiota. The program offers a combination of state-of-the-art knowledge, in-person and online, resources, and mini projects led by university students and researchers, ensuring accessibility and relevance for both schools and the broader community.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00107-25microbiology educationsecondary schoolslife sciences curriculumscience literacy |
| spellingShingle | Lara Raquel Pinto Amorim Betina da Silva Lopes Raquel Henriques Ramalho Ribeiro Maria da Conceição Lopes Vieira dos Santos From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education microbiology education secondary schools life sciences curriculum science literacy |
| title | From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools |
| title_full | From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools |
| title_fullStr | From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools |
| title_full_unstemmed | From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools |
| title_short | From curriculum to engagement: strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools |
| title_sort | from curriculum to engagement strengthening microbiology education in secondary schools |
| topic | microbiology education secondary schools life sciences curriculum science literacy |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.00107-25 |
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