Post on 20-Apr-2018
Teaching Developmental Biology in Brasil
Luiz Violin Universidade Estadual de Campinas
lviolin@unicamp.br
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Luis Antonio Violin PereiraSuzana Guimarães Moraes
Department of Histology and EmbryologyInstitute of Biology – State University of Campinas (UNICAMP)
Campinas, Brazil
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Institute of BiologyState University of Campinas (UNICAMP)Department of Histology and Embryology
WHY SHOULD WE STUDY AND TEACH DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY ?
The structural sequence of development of the body (morphogenesis)
Evolutionary aspects
Embryotechnology: stem cells, organ regeneration, assisted reproduction, cloning, fetal surgery
Mechanisms of birth defects
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
WHY IS THE TEACHING OF DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY SO DIFFICULT?
Dramatic explosion of knowledge and complexity in developmental biology
Developmental textbooks use static 2D images to illustrate development
Developmental Biology explores dynamic processes (4D)
There are only a few incomplete animations on the market
How much of developmental biology (new) vs. embryology (old) should be presented without overwhelming
the students with details?
TOPIC 1A Survey of the Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Offered in Undergraduate Courses of Biology and Medicine in Brazil
TOPIC 2An Example of an Approach Used to Teach Human Embryology at
UNICAMP
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
A Survey of the Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology offered in Undergraduate Courses of Biology and Medicine in Brazil
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
IntroductionDevelopmental Biology, more than other disciplines, has had difficulty in finding a comfortable niche in the curricula of biology and medical undergraduate courses
ObjectiveThe first goal was to determine the profiles of the disciplines related to developmental biology The second goal was to establish the minimum content for such disciplines in undergraduate courses of medicine and biology
Sample and DesignThe electronic addresses of instructors involved in disciplines related to Developmental Biology were obtained from a list maintained by the Brazilian Group of Developmental Biology
InstrumentAll participants received an electronic message with a login and password that provided a link to a website questionnaire that was to be answered by the coordinator of the corresponding discipline
Data AnalysisThe mean values for the questions were expressed as a percentage of the total number of participants that answered the questionnaire. The comments on the open-ended questions were subjected to content analysis in which words, phrases and sentences were grouped in categories
Results and Discussion
Participants in the Survey of Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology in Undergraduate Courses of Biology and Medicine in Brazil
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
19
19
19
57
Returned - Wrong mail
No replies
Replies
E-mails sent
1 (Optional)4Developmental Biology
61Module (Embryology)
19Embryology
MedicineBiology
Existence of Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology in Undergraduate Courses of Biology and Medicine in Brazil
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Biology Medicine
Embryology PhD: 70%Post-Doc: 30%
PhD: 72%Post-Doc: 14%
MSc: 14%
Developmental Biology Post-doc: 100% Post-doc: 100%
Instructor’s Level of Training in Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Discipline Content for Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Developmental Biology: 100%
Classic Embryology and Developmental Biology: 50%General Comparative Embryology: 25%Human Embryology: 25%
Developmental Biology
General Human Embryology: 100%Systematic Human Embryology: 71%
General Comparative Embryology: 56%General Embryology: 44%Systematic Embryology: 22%
Embryology
MedicineBiology
Number of Lectures in Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology in Undergraduate Courses of Biology and Medicine
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
30h65h (30 – 108)Developmental Biology
68h (36 – 120)63h (30 – 108)Embryology
MedicineBiology
Range in parentheses
1226 (33)Developmental Biology
75 (40 – 110)39 (20 – 50)Embryology
MedicineBiology
Class Sizes in Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Range in parentheses
Semesters in which Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology are offered
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
2nd – 6th : 100% (optional)
3rd year: 75%1st year: 25%
Developmental Biology
1st year: 72%1st - 2nd year: 14%1st - 2nd year: 14%
2nd year: 60% 1st year: 30%3rd year: 10%
Embryology
MedicineBiology
Embryology: 100%Cell Biology: 100%Histology: 100%
None: 25%Cell Biology: 75%Molecular Biology: 50%Embryology: 50%Genetics: 25%Vertebrate Zoology: 25%Histology: 25%Anatomy: 25%
Developmental Biology
None: 57%Cell Biology: 43%Histology: 29%Biochemistry: 14%
None: 44%Cell Biology: 44%Histology: 33%Anatomy: 11% Biochemistry: 11%Genetics: 11%Molecular Biology: 11%Ecology: 11%Evolution: 11%Invertebrate Zoology: 11%
Embryology
MedicineBiology
Prerequisites for Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Wolpert: 100%Gilbert: 100%Larsen: 100%Moore: 100%
None: 25%Wolpert: 50%Gilbert: 25%Moore: 25%Langman: 25%
Developmental Biology
Moore: 43%Carlson: 29%Langman: 14%Larsen: 14%
Gilbert: 38%Moore: 38%Wolpert: 13%Houillon: 13%Carlson: 13%Langman: 13%Garcia: 13%
Embryology
MedicineBiology
Textbooks Used in Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Yes: 100%Yes: 75%No: 25%Developmental Biology
Yes: 100%Yes: 90%No: 10%Embryology
MedicineBiology
Practical Classes in Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Histology of chicken and human embryosHomeotic mutations in Drosophila
Preparation and analysis of sea urchin, chicken, fish and other embryos – macro and microscopic analysisDevelopment of a practical research projectMake styrofoam and plasticine modelsAnalysis of 3D models and videos
Developmental Biology
Histology of chicken, sea urchin and human embryos, fetuses and gonadsMacroscopic analysis of human embryos, fetuses and placenta3D modelsPainting drawings of embryos and fetusesSeminarsDialogue displays of malformations clinical cases
Histological sections: 100%sea urchin, chicken, insect, fish, amphibian, reptile,human (normal and abnormal)
Incubation of eggs, with monitoring of developmental stages using histological sections Total mountsVideos: 26%3D Models: 13%
Embryology
MedicineBiology
Practical Activities in Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
No answerInsufficient technical support and monitors to prepare material for practical classes
Large class size
Developmental Biology
Insufficient permanent material for teaching Insufficient microscopes and laboratory facilities
Insufficient number of movies and computers
Large class size
Students have difficulties in correlating 2D and 3D images
Insufficient permanent material for teaching Insufficient microscopes and laboratory facilities
Insufficient number of movies and computers
Large class size
Embryology
MedicineBiology
Main Difficulties Encountered in Practical Activities inDisciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
CONCLUSIONSuggestions and Comments
for Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Students have difficulties in accepting DB
Students have difficulties in multidisciplinary thinking
Classic embryology should be a prerequisite for BD
Difficulties in establishing correlations between morphogenesis and the molecular mechanisms involved in development
Developmental Biology
Should have clinical correlations
Too few lectures
More multidisciplinary approaches
Systematic embryology must be taught
Difficult to correlate classic embryology and DB
Too much content and limited number of lectures
How to present DB in an attractive way?
Few books of comparative embryology
Embryology should be prerequisite to DB
Definition of prerequisite for BD
Difficult to use of computers and 3D models
Embryology
MedicineBiology
TOPIC 1A Survey of the Disciplines Related to Developmental Biology
Offered in Undergraduate Courses of Biology and Medicine in Brazil
TOPIC 2An Example of an Approach Used to Teach Human Embryology at
UNICAMP
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
An Example of an Approach Used to Teach Human Embryology at UNICAMP
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
IntroductionEmbryology has a multidisciplinary approach and explores dynamic processes (4-D) that make it difficult to teach and learn
ObjectiveTo use multimedia approaches to create new teaching material and ensure a strong integration among different areas
Sample and DesignThe lectures in embryology covered 50 h that included general embryology (24 h) and embryology of the body systems (36 h).Part I (1.5 h): explanation of the development of the body’s structures Part II (1.5 h): presentation of the clinical history and macro- and microscopic images of selected clinical cases; the students were encouraged to find and discuss the malformations and their diagnosis.Part III: the students were stimulated to attend an extra-class activity (software-based study)The data were obtained from 110 first-year medical students enrolled in 2004
InstrumentAt the end of the discipline, the teaching material and method were evaluated using questionnaires, interviews and exam questions
Data AnalysisThe mean values for questions was expressed as percentage of participants that answered the questionnaireThe comments on the open-ended questions were subjected to content analysis in which words, phrases and sentences were grouped in categories
Results and Discussion
STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS - Questionnaire
Media
3,49
3,14
3,59
3,61
3,69
3,67
3,45
3,20
3,70
3,57
2,53
3,85
2,99
1,00 2,00 3,00 4,00
Structural aspects
Presentation
Evaluation of the contents
Evaluation of the course content
Evaluation of the methodology
Aplicability of the methodology
Social aspects
Activities to be added
Aplicability of this methodology in other teaching modules
Psychological aspects
Availability of material
Material
Softw are and monitoring
Media
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
STUDENTS´ OPINIONS ABOUT THE DISCIPLINE OF EMBRYOLOGY - INTERVIEW
“The clinical cases highlight the importance of embryology”
“The theory needs to be understood in order to understand the clinical cases”
“The animations are essential for understanding human embryology”
“It would be very good if other disciplines also used educational software”
“Embryology is the only discipline to successfully integrate basic and clinical areas”
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
Braz J Morphol Sci (2004) 21(3), 117-123http://libdigi.unicamp.br/document/?code=10004
Developmental Biology (by Scott Gilbert) may be the first science textbook to have a website and an interactive guide (CD-ROM)
The seventh edition of Developmental Biology starts with a chapter on the medical implications of developmental biology
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
The student’s responses demonstrate that the software is used extensively and is
considered useful for learning human embryology and morphogenesis of birth
defects
We have noticed an increase in class participation, enhanced comprehension,
and a new found enthusiasm for embryology
Teaching human embryology in a multimedia and multidisciplinary approach
proved useful for solving and important difficulty associated with teaching methods
in many medical institutions, namely, the lack of integration between basic and
clinical disciplines
Could correlating normal and abnormal embryogenesis with
developmental biology provide an ideal approach for teaching this subject?
Different Approaches to Teaching Developmental Biology
An Example of an Approach Used to Teach Human Embryology at UNICAMP
CONCLUSION