Learning About Genetic Inheritance Through Technology~Enhanced Instruction

• Published in: Science scope (Washington, D.C.) D.C.), 2012-10, Vol.36 (2), p.69-73
• Main Authors: Williams, Michelle, Merritt, Joi, Opperman, Amanda, Porter, Jakob, Erlenbeck, Kyle
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alleles; Displays in education; Educational activities; Educational technology; Elementary Secondary Education; Epigenetic inheritance; Genetic inheritance; Genetics; Genotypes; Grade 7; Heredity; Junior high school students; Management; Methods; Middle School Students; Phenotypes; Phenotypic traits; Quantitative genetics; Science education; Sciences education; Simulation; Study and teaching; Teachers; Technology application; Technology Uses in Education
• ISSN: 0887-2376; 1943-4901
• DOI: 10.2505/3/ss12_036_02

Genetics is an increasingly important topic in today's society, and one that permeates people's lives on many levels. Students, teachers, and the general public alike are constantly exposed to this topic through popular television shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," political issues like voting on stem-cell research, and the inheritance of disease and disorders through their own family lineages. In addition, national science standards state the importance of genetics for K-12 education (NRC 2012). Yet the topic can be a challenging and abstract one for both teachers and students alike because of the various unseen processes involved (Alozie et al. 2010; Haga 2006). Thus, the authors designed a seventh-grade heredity module to address the complex and abstract nature of the topic while also meeting middle school content standards. One approach that has shown potential for teaching genetics to middle school students is the use of technology-enhanced instruction, which may lead to increased understanding by providing students with visualizations. This paper describes how a technology-enhanced module helped middle school students gain a more complete understanding of heredity through engaging them in online investigations. (Contains 4 figures.)