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Biochemistry and Art: Incorporating Drawings, Paintings, Music, and Media into Teaching Biological Science

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Trends in Teaching Experimentation in the Life Sciences

Abstract

This chapter explores the many artistic representation approaches educators have successfully implemented to teach and/or reinforce biochemical concepts. Avenues of accomplished exploration include drawings, paintings, music, and media. The chapter will go through each technique looking at examples used in primary, secondary, and/or post-secondary education. Future areas of research are proposed for each of the respective art types in accordance with The Basic Competencies of Biological Experimentation. The evidence-based benefits and lessons learned from each technique will be highlighted along with areas where further development, inclusion, or research is still needed. Although the ACE-Bio Competencies were not the driver, they were used to evaluate the strength of existing activities or assessments relative to foundational skills used in biologic experimentation. All of these works, viewed through this lens, provide guidance in design or implementation of activities that support students in developing the basic competencies of biologic experimentation.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge and thank the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research and Collin College. This chapter has received public approvial by the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research under PA#: USAFA-DF-2021-83. We also thank Stephanie Gardner and Jenean O’Brien for their helpful discussions and edits of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Latisha R. Jefferies .

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Jefferies, L.R., Jefferies, S.S. (2022). Biochemistry and Art: Incorporating Drawings, Paintings, Music, and Media into Teaching Biological Science. In: Pelaez, N.J., Gardner, S.M., Anderson, T.R. (eds) Trends in Teaching Experimentation in the Life Sciences. Contributions from Biology Education Research. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98592-9_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98592-9_23

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-98592-9

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