Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study
Abstract The primary aim of this resource is to promote student understanding of the importance of evolutionary theory to medicine. This module uses malaria as a case study for learning basic concepts in evolutionary biology by using examples in which malaria acts as an evolutionary force. In the fi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association of American Medical Colleges
2010-05-01
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| Series: | MedEdPORTAL |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.8086 |
| _version_ | 1818966114922659840 |
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| author | Aditi Pai |
| author_facet | Aditi Pai |
| author_sort | Aditi Pai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The primary aim of this resource is to promote student understanding of the importance of evolutionary theory to medicine. This module uses malaria as a case study for learning basic concepts in evolutionary biology by using examples in which malaria acts as an evolutionary force. In the first of the four case study assignments, students learn about malaria as a selective agent on human populations. In the second week, the assignment is designed to allow students to make connections between concepts in population genetics by learning about sickle cell allele frequency in various human populations. In the latter two assignments, another evolution story related to malaria (i.e., that of drug resistance in malaria parasites) is explored. Instructors may also use the emergence of insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes as a topic for additional assignments. At the end of the fourth exercise, students are asked to articulate the importance of evolutionary theory in medicine. Survey results revealed that students at Spelman College appreciate this structure and the materials in the case study. Specifically, the aims of the assessment were to determine if this pedagogical approach was interesting or useful to the students, effective in improving students' knowledge, and effective in enhancing students' learning experience compared to a traditional biology class. The results of these three assessment activities revealed that students rated their interest in case-study work to be high and indicated that their subject knowledge was significantly enhanced. A comparison of students' evaluation of their learning experiences in the old and the new case-study-based introductory biology class, even with the same instructor, showed that they rated their learning to be significantly better in the case-study-based class. The data suggest that the case study based approach was more effective in engaging students and enhancing their learning. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:27:46Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f3775c9a17694cc597f5b70e04cf4ec2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2374-8265 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T13:27:46Z |
| publishDate | 2010-05-01 |
| publisher | Association of American Medical Colleges |
| record_format | Article |
| series | MedEdPORTAL |
| spelling | doaj.art-f3775c9a17694cc597f5b70e04cf4ec22022-12-21T19:39:14ZengAssociation of American Medical CollegesMedEdPORTAL2374-82652010-05-01610.15766/mep_2374-8265.8086Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case StudyAditi Pai01 Spelman CollegeAbstract The primary aim of this resource is to promote student understanding of the importance of evolutionary theory to medicine. This module uses malaria as a case study for learning basic concepts in evolutionary biology by using examples in which malaria acts as an evolutionary force. In the first of the four case study assignments, students learn about malaria as a selective agent on human populations. In the second week, the assignment is designed to allow students to make connections between concepts in population genetics by learning about sickle cell allele frequency in various human populations. In the latter two assignments, another evolution story related to malaria (i.e., that of drug resistance in malaria parasites) is explored. Instructors may also use the emergence of insecticide resistance in malaria vector mosquitoes as a topic for additional assignments. At the end of the fourth exercise, students are asked to articulate the importance of evolutionary theory in medicine. Survey results revealed that students at Spelman College appreciate this structure and the materials in the case study. Specifically, the aims of the assessment were to determine if this pedagogical approach was interesting or useful to the students, effective in improving students' knowledge, and effective in enhancing students' learning experience compared to a traditional biology class. The results of these three assessment activities revealed that students rated their interest in case-study work to be high and indicated that their subject knowledge was significantly enhanced. A comparison of students' evaluation of their learning experiences in the old and the new case-study-based introductory biology class, even with the same instructor, showed that they rated their learning to be significantly better in the case-study-based class. The data suggest that the case study based approach was more effective in engaging students and enhancing their learning.http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.8086Sickle CellMCATCase StudyNatural SelectionSalariaDrug Resistance |
| spellingShingle | Aditi Pai Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study MedEdPORTAL Sickle Cell MCAT Case Study Natural Selection Salaria Drug Resistance |
| title | Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study |
| title_full | Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study |
| title_fullStr | Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study |
| title_short | Learning Concepts in Evolution Using Malaria as a Case Study |
| title_sort | learning concepts in evolution using malaria as a case study |
| topic | Sickle Cell MCAT Case Study Natural Selection Salaria Drug Resistance |
| url | http://www.mededportal.org/doi/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.8086 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT aditipai learningconceptsinevolutionusingmalariaasacasestudy |