What is it about?
We investigate the contribution of the board game ‘Synthesizing Proteins’ to the understanding of protein synthesis by high school students. The game contains playing cards and a board with a cross section diagram of a eukaryotic animal cell, showing organelles and other structures identified by their names. Fifteen high school students participated – six from Public school and nine from Private school. Our questions to understand the game contirbutions were: Do students’ post-interviews indicate improvement regarding students understanding of concepts about protein synthesis? Which types of interactions are at play during the game?
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The game contributed to the improvement (or formation) of a protein synthesis model by the students. The contribution was provided also by the interactions occurred, especially of cooperative and competitive nature. The game can stimulate the development of important skills such as decision-making, anticipations, managing situations and strategic conduct .
Perspectives
One of the goals of this article was to help teachers deal with the subject 'protein shyntesis', which demands an abstraction that students do not always get with a simple lecture. The game has a cooperative and pleasurable aspect and its use can be facilitated when classmates who have had previous experience with the game act as tutors of their colleagues.
Nelma Bossolan
University of Sao Paulo
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Using a board game to teach protein synthesis to high school students, Journal of Biological Education, May 2018, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/00219266.2018.1469532.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
