Primary school students’ basic knowledge, opinions and risk perceptions about microorganisms

Karadon, Hediye Deniz; Sahin, Nurettin

doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.700

Cited by 24 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…For all age groups, anthropocentric ideas are typical. Similar findings emerge in Karadon and Şahin (2010), where more than half of 836 respondents defined microorganisms as dirty, harmful or as a type of pollution. In a study by Jones and Rua (2006), children between 8 and 11 represented microorganisms in one of three forms: microorganisms, animals such as insects or scenes such as a garbage dump.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Public opinions and knowledge about microorganisms

Špernjak

Puhmeister²,

Šorgo

2021

Research in Science & Technological Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background:The microbiology should be a part of curricula; especially after epidemic COVID-19. Purpose:The study reports the level of knowledge and opinions of Slovenian citizens about microorganisms. Sample: The target population of the online survey was Slovenian citizens older than 14 years. Design and methods: We collected 405 complete surveys, which structured with 47 knowledge items and 18 opinion items about microorganisms. Results: We found a lack of knowledge among citizens and corresponding misconceptions about microorganisms. There were no statistically significant differences in citizens' knowledge by age and gender, but citizens with higher educational attainment had better knowledge scores. Participants equate the terms virus, bacteria and microorganisms, an error that can lead to misconceptions. We found that between 15.0 and 20.0% of citizens experience fear of microorganisms. Regarding gender, age and degree level, there were statistically significant differences in participants' opinions about microorganisms. 45.5% of the participants agreed that the topic of microorganisms is underrepresented in school. This is probably the reason why 44.2% of the participants are not interested in microbiology, although 74.6% are aware that knowledge about microorganisms is important and useful. Conclusion: It would be good to strengthen the content and ways of working in the education system, because in case of a pandemic like SARS-CoV-2 there would be more understanding of what we are dealing with and less fear of the ignorant.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 69%

Public opinions and knowledge about microorganisms

Špernjak

Puhmeister²,

Šorgo

2021

Research in Science & Technological Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In all likelihood, they will grab whatever information they find to build their knowledge about the microbial world (26). That information mainly comes from mass media (27, 28), with a not-so-positive image of microorganisms. Furthermore, microbiology poses a huge additional difficulty for educators: to explain an invisible world, to explain the unseen.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comics as an Educational Resource To Teach Microbiology in the Classroom

Morel

Peruzzo²,

Juele³

et al. 2019

J Microbiol Biol Educ.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

New educational resources are being implemented as an initiative to foster learning. In order to contribute to the toolkit of innovative educational resources, we developed a microbiology comic book. The aim of this comic is to provide educators with a fun, accessible, and rigorous way to generate awareness of the invisible world that surrounds us and that inhabits us. Bacteria have a reputation as harmful and disgusting entities. Mass media, with advertisements of disinfectants, soaps, and house cleaning products, are sending a distorted message about microbes. We must debunk these misconceptions and emphasize the importance of microorganisms, and particularly bacteria, in the environment and our lives. Education is the means to this end, and therefore this comic is intended to help educators teach microbiology in an attractive, accurate, and straightforward way. Here, we present this educational tool and give some tips on the different themes that can be addressed in the classroom using this resource.

show abstract

“…Con respecto al lugar en que pueden habitar los microorganismos y, contrariamente a lo que sucede en otras investigaciones, el cuerpo humano es la opción más representada (Faccio et al, 2013;Nagy, 1953), concretamente las manos, asociándose así su presencia con la falta de higiene (Karandon y Sahin, 2010;Vasquez, 1985). La segunda opción elegida también se vincula a lugares poco higiénicos, reflejándose de nuevo una consideración negativa de estos seres vivos.…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Los microorganismos en la educación primaria. Ideas de los alumnos de 8 a 11 años e influencia de los libros de texto

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The relevance of microorganisms in the biosphere and their growing applications in different areas make them an essential content for schoolchildren. This research, through the use of drawing and open questions, analyzes the preconceptions that students aged between 8 and 11 have on microorganisms. A set of 12 Natural Science textbooks for students in that age group are also reviewed, checking how this topic is addressed. Findings show a negative and limited view of microorganisms, coinciding largely with the way in which this subject is approached in the different publishers. All of this may have implications for planning and sequencing the microbiology contents, in order to give a wider and more balanced view of microorganisms' harms and goods.

show abstract

Primary school students’ basic knowledge, opinions and risk perceptions about microorganisms

Cited by 24 publications

References 4 publications

Public opinions and knowledge about microorganisms

Public opinions and knowledge about microorganisms

Comics as an Educational Resource To Teach Microbiology in the Classroom

Los microorganismos en la educación primaria. Ideas de los alumnos de 8 a 11 años e influencia de los libros de texto

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About