Teaching-learning: a mutual exchange between high school and graduate students in the field of microbiology

Abstract

The teaching-learning process becomes more attractive when practical classes are used as part of methodological tools. Aiming (i) to stimulate the interest of high school students in the microbiological world and (ii) to provide didactic experience for microbiology graduate students, practical classes were undertaken. These classes were carried out during 2016 and 2017 using the infrastructure at Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Briefly, laboratory classes were prepared and taught by microbiology graduate students and an evaluation questionnaire was answered by the participants after the classes. Approximately 95% of high school students, from both years, evaluated the experience outside the school routine as very good and good; in detail, 90.09% (2016) and 100% (2017) of graduate students evaluated this experience as very good and good. The relationship between high school and graduate students also increased the curiosity of the former regarding the university environment. Accordingly, information retention regarding the ‘microbiology world’ was verified after 1 year and the students were able to remember important terms related to the microbiology class. In addition, this work allowed graduate and high school students to build a closer relationship and created an excellent teaching-learning strategy for both.