Integration of English-medium research articles on biology into teacher training programmes

Purpose and target

The purpose of this project is to assess and develop the English reading comprehension of student teachers whose main subject is biology. This is because the teaching material is increasingly made up of English research articles, which the students are not taking full advantage of. The project is specifically focused on integrating English language texts into the teaching of biology.

The purpose is to develop an approach and toolbox which enables both students and teachers to use and understand research articles in English.

About the project

The project ran during the spring and fall semesters in 2022. It focused on two modules of a biology class, one on natural gas and one on evolution.

Study guides and activities were developed that integrated the use of both Danish and English texts to facilitate students’ learning outcomes. The study guides were tested and evaluated at regular points throughout the course, with the goal of improving students’ learning outcomes from reading texts in English. The final assessment of the activities will take place in January 2023.