Development of a Do-It-Yourself (D.I.Y.) Gel Electrophoresis Apparatus for Grade-12 STEM General Biology Students

EasyChair Preprint no. 2466

Abstract

A hurdle to effective science education in schools is often the lack of teaching materials. Teaching science education in the 21st century requires direct visualization and manipulation with effective use and implementation for meaningful learning to occur, thus, unleashing students’ potential towards the lesson, boosting their engagement in learning, and applying the knowledge into skills. This study was carried out to develop a do-it-yourself gel electrophoresis apparatus. This study was conducted in Cebu Normal University, Philippines with nineteen (19) teachers from the Methods of Teaching Science and Instructional Trends and Issues Class who evaluated the apparatus in terms of usability and functionality. The respondents tested the Gel Electrophoresis apparatus by conducting the experiment and they evaluated the apparatus’ functionality and usability by using an evaluation sheet which is composed of eleven (11) usability questions, four (4) functionality questions. Suggestions were also asked to improve the said apparatus. After gathering data, the suggestions made by the respondents were incorporated which resulted to the improved D.I.Y. Gel Electrophoresis Apparatus. A manual with the procedures was also designed to further guide students and teachers on how to build the apparatus. With the findings obtained in the study, the respondents recommended the usage of the developed do-it-yourself gel electrophoresis apparatus in their respective classes and agreed that it is a good source of learning the concept of gel electrophoresis as a 21st century biological technique. The apparatus was easy to set-up and is of low-cost. During experimentation, the apparatus yielded with a positive result – the separation of food dyes which follows the principle of gel electrophoresis. Moreover, the experiment encourages creativity and it helps with the understanding of the nature of DNA and the concept of gel electrophoresis as a 21st century biological skills.

Keyphrases: 21st century biological techniques, do-it-yourself apparatus, gel electrophoresis, gel electrophoresis apparatus, science education, science instrumentation, STEM students, Teaching Science

@Booklet{EasyChair:2466,
  author = {Janne Noelle Gamale and Dharel Acut and Karla Marie Frances Niere and Gwen Stephany Silagan and Ethel Curaraton and Guadalupe Latonio and Rhett Anthony Latonio and Joy Magsayo},
  title = {Development of a Do-It-Yourself (D.I.Y.) Gel Electrophoresis Apparatus for Grade-12 STEM General Biology Students},
  howpublished = {EasyChair Preprint no. 2466},

  year = {EasyChair, 2020}}