|
|
Insects as a model group of organisms for the research of knowledge about and attitudes to invertebrate animals
Jelínek, Filip ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Janšta, Petr (referee)
This thesis is a literature review that aims to process the available literature on attitudes towards insects, knowledge about insects and the ways in which the perception of insects by humans can be influenced. In the chapters focused on attitudes towards insects, I show how the emotions of disgust and fear lead to negative views of insects and, conversely, how the perception of their beauty and importance promotes positive views of insects. In the knowledge section, I show how people confuse true information about insects with myths, inaccurately distinguishing between what is an insect and what is not, which insects are dangerous and which are not. In the last chapters, I present the literature that deals with the ways in which attitudes towards insects and knowledge about insects can be influenced. I deal with the effect of urbanization, experiential educational programs and the picture of insects in human culture, namely in language, poetry, fictional literature and fine arts
|
|
|
Proposals of Practical Excercises in Zoology Based on Protists and Invertebrates from Freshwater Aquaria
Talavášková, Barbora ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Říhová, Dagmar (referee)
This thesis deals with proposals for practical exercises using freshwater aquaria in teaching elementary schools and junior high schools that focus on protozoa and invertebrates. The main aim of the thesis is to propose practical exercises using elements of inquiry-based science education. Using identification cards of protozoa and microscopic invertebrates, pupils can learn about these organisms during laboratory exercises with microscopes. A total of fourteen cards with representatives of protozoa, invertebrates, algae and cyanobacteria typical of freshwater aquariums are presented. Each of the identification cards contains a basic description, as well as a procedure for the pupils to observe and draw the organism. They are accompanied by a photograph, a pen drawing and a QR code that links to a video of the observation of the representative under the microscope. Another proposal is a practical exercise focusing on the food chain of standing water. Also included is a worksheet focusing on independent laboratory work by students on water quality analysis using the Pasco laboratory technique. The contribution of this work is the actual experience of setting up a school freshwater aquarium. The process of setting up the aquarium and investigating it is described in this thesis. The succession of...
|
|
|
Circadian rhythms in human life - elaboration of the topic with elements of the flipped classroom teaching method
Křivohlavá, Tereza ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Manková, Denisa (referee)
The thesis deals with an alternative teaching method called the flipped classroom, which was applied in the practical part to the topic of the biology of circadian rhythms. In the flipped classroom method, the phases of teaching are switched. Study material is created for the students and presented to them for home study before the class. In the actual teaching, there is then more time for clarifying ambiguities or consolidating material, which is the main advantage of the flipped classroom. Circadian rhythms are biorhythms repeating with a period of approximately 24 hours. The circadian system is controlled by the central circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus. These circadian clocks are synchronized by environmental stimuli, predominantly light. In the case of irregular artificial lighting, the body's circadian clock desynchronizes and disturbances in mood, cognitive performance, or physical health can occur. In the frame of the practical part of the thesis, a video was created to introduce students to the topic of circadian rhythms. In addition, worksheet assignments were created to practice and deepen students' knowledge of biological rhythms, as well as the design of an entire teaching unit with flipped classroom elements. Everything was tested on 4 groups of the...
|
|
|
Science-Oriented Courses of the University of the Third Age from the Perspective of Their Participants
Jedlička, Tomáš ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Andreska, Jan (referee)
Factors affecting the motivation to study natural sciences are intensively researched. However, most authors focus on younger age groups of the population, especially primary and secondary school students. On the other hand, in my rigorous work and published article, I focused on the education of seniors. Their interest-based education at retirement age is becoming more and more important, as the population in the Czech Republic is aging overall. Using semi-structured interviews with eight participants in science-oriented university courses for the third age at the Faculty of Science of Charles University, I tried to find out the factors that motivate seniors to study and I asked them how they evaluate the courses, which they attend. I carried out the research in my diploma thesis (Jedlčka, 2018) and subsequently published in the journal Bioolgie-chemie-zeměpis (Jedlička and Mourek, 2023). In the author's commentary, I place the issue of the university of the third age and the participants in their courses in the context of the covid-19 pandemic, which significantly changed the course of the university of the third age. In the commentary, I also address the seniors themselves, who were significantly affected by the pandemic, and not only in terms of health. The author's commentary, together with...
|
|
| |
|
|
Motivation to teach biology in relation to less popular biological topics
Křečková, Tereza ; Rajsiglová, Ina (advisor) ; Mourek, Jan (referee)
Biology in general is one of the moderately popular or rather popular subjects within science subjects, and at the same time it is often classified as a low-difficulty or even easy subject. Even so, there are areas, such as geology, mycology, protozoology and, surprisingly, botany, which are described as unpopular by pupils in 2nd grade of elementary school and multi-year high schools and do not leave a lasting mark on students or motivate them to explore more deeply. This may be due to a lack of motivation, interest, incorrect attitudes towards these areas of biology or a lack of belief or perception of these particular topics. All of the causes mentioned can also stem from the framework education programmes, and below these programmes in selected European Union countries are compared. The first aim of the bachelor thesis is to discuss the term motivation and to relate it to other terms mentioned in relation to motivation. The other objectives are to look into biological topics and to find which of them are among the unpopular ones among pupils in the Czech Republic, Finland and Slovakia. Among the selected unpopular topics in each country, algology was specifically selected because of its own experience in teaching biology at the 2nd grade of primary school. As a teacher, it is difficult to grasp...
|
|
|
The influence of microbiome to pesticide resistence of stored product mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae
Bostlová, Marie ; Hubert, Jan (advisor) ; Mourek, Jan (referee)
Model organism used in this study is stored product mite specifically Tyrophagus putrescentiae. Presence of microorganisms may cause physiological changes (especially changes of immune system) which can result in different pesticide tolerance of tested mite population. The most effective way how to control mite is by acaricide application. We compare the reaction of two T. putrescentiae populations to pesticide treatment. The mite population differ in symbiont composition: symbiotic population 5P containing Wolbachia and asymbiotic population 5Pi with absence of Wolbachia. We observe negative effect of all tested treatments to mite reproduction rate. We used filter paper tests, growing tests and microbiome analyzes. High concentrations of pesticides in the diet reduced the presence of Wolbachia, Bartonella, and Bacillus bacteria in the 5P symbiotic population. This phenomenon was less noticeable in the asymbiotic population. Medium concentration of deltamethrin and primifos methyl increased diversity in the symbiotic population but not in asymbiotic one. The results showed that the asymbiotic population did not have a significantly different tolerance to pesticides compared to the asymbiotic population. However, they showed that the presence of pesticides in the diet affects the composition of the...
|
|
|
Fieldwork in soil biology
Dufek, Dominik ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Blažová, Kateřina (referee)
This thesis didactically processes three proposals of fieldwork for intermediate school pupils and students of lower grades of grammar schools. Two of the described sites for field education are located directly in the capital city of Prague (Prokopské valley, Meanders of Botič) and the third locality lies 30 km south of Prague (Medník). All field exercises are focused on soil, soil biology and ecology of selected localities. During the fieldwork, students apply active learning and record their results in worksheets. The first half of the thesis is a literary review describing the characteristics of the selected sites, the soil and soil organisms and selected methods of study of soil ecosystems. The last part of the literary review deals with general characteristics of field training as an organizational teaching form, its aims, methods and organization. The actual output of the whole work is the proposal of three fieldworks and methodological materials for teachers. Individual tasks in the worksheets are analysed from the didactical point of view. Two of the fieldworks were tested in school practice by the author of the thesis. The course of the two fieldworks commented and the results of the students' works are evaluated. The annex of the theses contains worksheets for students, their correct...
|
|
| |
|
|
Zoological preparation techniques in school practice
Odcházelová, Tereza ; Mourek, Jan (advisor) ; Šíma, Petr (referee)
This thesis consists of description of chosen methods of permanent macroscopic zoological preparations. I verified successfully all the methods in practice and in case of methodological difficulties I optimized them for use in the school environment. In this work I answered the questions that could come up throughout the preparation process, for example: how to preserve the animal correctly; where to acquire the animal legally; what is the best way to maintain the animal's natural colour; what materials to use for the preparation and so on. According to current approaches I created not only a text based version of the manual of all verified preparation methods, but also an online version in form of a web site. To clarify the methods I included video sequences, photographs and schemes. With this e- learning course a teacher will be able to extend the school collection with his own preparations and also will be able to recognize what significant characteristics to point out. As a part of my work I have done a questionnaire focused on using various types of equipment in biology lectures. I have asked primary school teachers and high school teachers from all regions in the Czech Republic. This questionnaire was sent online and 322 out of 1636 people responded. The answers tell us that teachers...
|
guest ::
RSS feed.