Biology is changing fast. In an excellent article in Plos Biology, 10(7): e1001356, Redfield RJ, consider that the way we use to teach genetics is updated and propose alternative to teach useful and interesting material. Although we might not agree on everything she propose, it is to be admitted that the historical perspective in genetic teaching is outdated and in need of a shaking.
However, I personally believe that the historical aspect is part of the beauty and attraction of biology. I remember very well that learning about the elegance and beauty of the classical experiments by eg Jacob and Monod, amongst many others was part of the fascination to become a biologist. By example, I recently very much enjoyed an historical perspective on the first tree of life by Woese written by Pace et al., PNAS 2012. I believe that the combination of historical context and realization of the implications that it had and still has, is fascinating.
It is true that with the pace of change in current biology, it should probably be forming a separate less central aspect of a modern curriculum. I would however favor to keep the historical perspective because of the intrinsic beauty of the experiments and the lessons it teaches about scientific thinking.
However, I personally believe that the historical aspect is part of the beauty and attraction of biology. I remember very well that learning about the elegance and beauty of the classical experiments by eg Jacob and Monod, amongst many others was part of the fascination to become a biologist. By example, I recently very much enjoyed an historical perspective on the first tree of life by Woese written by Pace et al., PNAS 2012. I believe that the combination of historical context and realization of the implications that it had and still has, is fascinating.
It is true that with the pace of change in current biology, it should probably be forming a separate less central aspect of a modern curriculum. I would however favor to keep the historical perspective because of the intrinsic beauty of the experiments and the lessons it teaches about scientific thinking.
The before last sentence is highly stimulating:
It has now to be seen how this develop in a new course and how this modifies the potential interest of the student.As long as we remain comfortable with teaching largely irrelevant material, we don't have to worry about changing it.
No comments:
Post a Comment