The service-learning course is a course where you are the teacher! Gather the knowledge acquired during your studies and learn how to popularise it for children aged 6 to 12 by creating workshops based on a theme related to a microbiology and biodiversity issue. In 2021, in parallel to the classroom workshops, our students participated in the writing of a scientific article published in the journal Frontiers in Education. Those who accompanied us to the end of the editing process were even credited in the article, a great start for a future career in research! In 2022, we collaborated with Radio Télévision Suisse to create popular science video clips, and their talents were put to direct use.

This course is offered as an elective in the spring semester to 3rd year Bachelor's students in biology, biology-ethnology, sciences and sports, option biology and natural systems, as well as to the whole doctoral school. The aim is to enable you to get involved in local communities and to acquire new skills in communication for the general public and in teaching, while consolidating your knowledge with the aim to pass on knowledge in your turn.

To do this, you must independently prepare a strategy for transmitting knowledge on a specific scientific topic to a non-specialist audience; in our case, schoolchildren in grades 3 to 7 (approximately 6 to 12 years old). The scientific subject and the way it is approached are discussed between you, the teachers of the classes concerned and the academic supervisors in order to involve all partners. The only prerogative is to discuss what microorganisms are, their diversity and the importance of this diversity, highlighting if possible the multitude of beneficial actions they can offer to society.

The general organization of a semester is as follows:

• December to February: Recruitment of school teachers and information about the course to final year Bachelor students and PhD students.
• Mid-February - early March: Registration for the course on IS-Academia and Moodle, formation of working groups, first working sessions and first contacts.
• March - April: Preparation of the activities, with regular exchanges between the different partners of the project (students, teachers, assistants and professors).
• April - May: Pedagogical activities in schools (about 10 periods).
• June: Final presentation with feedback between the different participants, evaluation of the course.

• Popularise science in a clear and accurate way
• Communicate with a non-specialist audience (children aged 6 to 12)
• Apply the knowledge acquired through the creation of a fun activity
• Evaluate the successful transmission of their knowledge
• Work effectively in a team

The service-learning teaching consists in 28 hours of occupation, equivalent to three credits in the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

The schedule is as follows: 

• Theme selection (4h)
• Initial presentation + Briefing with teachers, professors and students (4h)
• Preparation of teaching material (4-6h)
• Classroom activities (10-12 h)

Moodle page (2022)

Contact: microbes.ecole@unine.ch