Science Made Easy: ‘Rote learning has no place in Biology’, says an educator

It is a myth that Biology becomes tougher to understand as students go into higher classes. No subject is difficult or easy to understand. It is just a perception that few students have affecting their academic performance.

Biology has its origin in the Greek language – ‘Bios’ means life and ‘logos means to study. So the terms used in Biology are new to the students. But once they read it a few times, they can memorise it. To study Biology one should have a love for the subject. Biology is a science of living organisms so it’s about us, says Neetu Bhardwaj, PGT Biology at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar.

“It includes human physiology – organs, their functioning and disorders, plant and animal classification, morphology, anatomy of plants and animals, photosynthesis and respiration, macro and micro molecules present in our body, genetics, applications to society, biodiversity and their conservation. The subject is based on facts and concepts and students will enjoy learning the concepts, relating to them and applying them in daily life,” Bhardwaj explained.

However, certain topics need better understanding, Bhardwaj said. In class X students study Life Processes. So, at times, they need to understand the structure and functioning of the heart and brain carefully. Genetics have technical concepts and students need to critically think and analyse the Laws of Heredity so that they can apply their knowledge to new situations.

“In class XI, the classification of plants and animals needs understanding together with the Phylum since they are interconnected with slight variations when it comes to features. Morphology and anatomy need critical analysis. Photosynthesis and respiration cycles need in-depth analysis of substrate and product formed in a stepwise sequence,” Bhardwaj opined.

Biology becomes 50 per cent easier when we draw and practise diagrams as they are the lifeline of the subject. Draw and practise the schematic flow charts applying logic and reasoning

–Neetu Bhardwaj, PGT Biology at Apeejay School, Mahavir Marg in Jalandhar

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In class XII, chapters Principles of Inheritance and Variations and Molecular Basis of Inheritance deal with technical concepts of genetics, Bhardwaj added and therefore, students need to understand the concepts properly.

“Biotechnology principles and application explains the latest techniques used to extract a desired gene and insert it into a cell with the help of a vector. All these techniques are very interesting. If a student is curious to learn, everything is based on logic and reasoning,” Bhardwaj said.

Strategies to follow

• Students should love the subject they study and the subject will automatically become easy.
• Rote learning has no place in Biology.
• Understand the concepts in depth.
• Develop critical thinking and ask: Why and how for every concept one studies.
• Biology becomes 50 per cent easier when we draw and practise diagrams as they are the lifeline of the subject.
• Draw and practise the schematic flow charts applying logic and reasoning.
• Use key sentences or words for easy memorisation. To write the hierarchy of classification one learns it with the sentence. For example, keep plates clean otherwise family gets sick. If we pick the first word of every sentence we land up on levels of hierarchy of classification.
• Making notes is the best way to learn and quick revisions before exams.
• Watch videos to have a visual learning of concepts.
• Revision of concepts learnt gives better memorisation of topics.
• Perform experiments on concepts learnt for real understanding and develop scientific learning and attitude.