Integration of Microbial Communities into a Microbiology Laboratory Class Curriculum

生物科学（61）。“微生物群落与微生物实验课课程的整合”为微生物学课程的本科生提供了现代分子方法和工具，这些方法和工具正在改变微生物生态学的研究。该项目将现有的基于研究的微生物群落分析方法转化为微生物实验室教学练习，将本科生的经验从传统的纯培养技术练习扩展到研究微生物群落的活动。该项目强调与微生物生态群落功能相关的关键概念的合作学习。这些概念包括：1)微生物群落由多个分类群组成，它们的集体活动是群落活动的基础；2)可培养的微生物群可以与控制群落功能的微生物群区分开来；3)不依赖培养的分子方法可用于澄清群落组成；4)群落组成与群落功能是有机联系的概念。正在开发和测试微生物学概念清单（MCI），以评估学生对这些关键思想的理解。通过区域和国家会议、互联网和教育出版物传播MCI以及教学材料和练习，扩大了项目的影响，并增加了项目成为其他机构微生物学课程模式的可能性。

Biological Sciences (61). "Integration of Microbial Communities into a Microbiology Laboratory Class Curriculum" is providing undergraduate students in microbiology courses with exposure to modern molecular methods and tools that are transforming research in microbial ecology. This project is translating existing research-based methods for microbial community analysis into an instructional microbiology laboratory exercises that are expanding the undergraduate experience from traditional exercises using pure culture techniques to activities that investigate microbial communities. The project emphasizes collaborative learning of key concepts related to the functioning of microbial ecological communities. These concepts include: 1) that microbial communities consist of multiple taxa whose collective actions underlie community activities; 2) that culturable microbial taxa can be distinct from those that control community function; 3) that culture-independent molecular methods can be used to clarify community composition; and 4) that community composition and community function are integrally related concepts. A microbiology concept inventory (MCI) that assesses gains in students' understanding of these key ideas is being developed and tested. The dissemination of the MCI and the instructional materials and exercises through regional and national meetings, the internet, and educational publications, is broadening the impact of the project and increasing the likelihood that the project becomes a model for microbiology courses at other institutions.