The use of molecular and cell biology scientific news to facilitate learning and scientific thinking

Abstract

Molecular Cell Biology (MCB) should be taught according to the scientific practices, avoiding cumulative and memory knowledge construction, but favoring scientific thinking. A way to achieve this goal is to apply activities involving scientific news, which construct knowledge through significant learning and the development of critical thinking. The study aimed to evaluatethe implementation of learning activities involving scientific news in the MCB course at the undergraduate level. The perspective of design-based research was applied, whereas the cognitive and interpersonal aspects were evaluated by means of the professors´ narration, class registration, questionnaires answered by the students, and the evaluation of the activities carried out bythe students. Results showed that the activity involving scientific news reinforces the construction and integration of new knowledge with that previously acquired and consolidates the acquisition of scientific thinking. Even though the completion of the activity involved a complex process, according to the professor and students´ opinion, the students observed positive aspects such asthe application of biological and scientific language and the motivation to search for related information. Regarding the cooperative learning strategy, students perceived that it is a methodology that facilitates their learning. In summary, incorporating scientific news into MCB courses will enhance professors´ effectiveness in achieving didactic goals while also fostering scientific thinking in students, equipping them for future roles as biologists and professorsin biological sciences.