Teaching Crafty Microbiology: Safely Teaching Hands-on Microbiology Skills at Home

• Main Authors: Dr. Anne M Estes, Anna Jozwick, Jennifer Kerr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Microbiology 2021-03-01
• Series: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
• Online Access: https://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/2345

Using non-toxic craft items and disposable lab consumables, we have developed nine modules to teach fundamental, hands-on microbiology lab skills safely at home. These “Crafty” teaching modules can be paired with virtual instruction and/or data collected by an instructor to replicate traditional microbiology lab exercises that characterize an unknown microbe. Materials and procedures used were carefully chosen to best mimic the texture of “media,” represent microbial “diversity,” assess aseptic technique, and produce analyzable data from results. Some protocols build upon and extend previously unpublished ideas, while others provide novel methods. The lab skills include proper personal protective equipment (PPE) usage and basic biosafety, aseptic technique, microscopy and staining, streaking for isolation, spread plating, serial dilutions, filtering, disk diffusion method, and modeling an epidemic. Each protocol includes a student handout with background, links to videos of the methods performed with microbes, a rationale for the pairing of craft and consumable lab supplies along with technique used, a video or image demonstration of the “Crafty” technique when needed, post-lab questions, and an instructor guide. This resource was developed for an undergraduate microbiology course, and each lab is aligned with learning outcomes within the American Society for Microbiology’s undergraduate curriculum guidelines. This work would also be useful for outreach and K–12 educators. The development of microbiology lab skills by all students, regardless of economic or health status, will lead to a more scientifically minded society.