A Basic Microbiology Course for High School Students

Abstract

I describe a 5-day basic microbiology enrichment course for high school students. In this course, students learn microbiological techniques such as preparation of agar plates, isolation of bacteria from food, serial dilution, and plating. Additionally, they experience the steps involved in the identification of an unknown bacterium and learn about the modes of action of common antibiotics against different types of bacteria. Feedback indicates that this course provided invaluable lessons and experiences for students who had no prior hands-on experience with microorganisms.