TRENDS OF LIFE SCIENCE EDUCATION IN UNDERGRADUATE CLASSES—STUDY ON QUESTIONAIRE CONDUCTED IN JAPAN—

Abstract

A questionnaire survey regarding character and instruction of classes in life science education was given to faculty members at Japanese universities. Questions about life science classes covered their character, contents, taxtbooks, teaching and learning methods, audiovisual aids, and examinations. The major survey results are that 1) around one third of classes have been residency requirements; 2) almost all classes have had no prerequisite; 3) about eighty percent of classes have been given by single instructors; 4) half of instructors have used textbooks; 5) around only one quarter of instructors have introduced new teaching and learning methods in their classes other than writing on blackboard; 6) over eighty-five percent of instructors have given an examination. Questions were asked in relevance to social concerns in life science including environmental issues, biotechnology, human reproduction, transplantation, and others. The survey results indicate that 1) about half of the faculty members have discussed pollution in their classes; 2) issues related to global changes have not always been dealt with in classes; 3) biotechnology and genetic engineering of organisms other than human being have been focused on in studies; 4) human diseases such as AIDS have not been mentioned; and 5) few faculty members have discussed human reproduction. Further results are discussed in detail in the text.