Let’s face it, as Biology teachers we are constantly asked the question: ” Why do I need to learn Biology?
What do you say?
You can share over at our “Facebook Group “Biology Teachers” or in the comments below.
What do I say?
Usually when I am posed the questions I go off on a rant for 20 minutes tying in every relevant current event with the topics we just covered in class.
And then…I realize their mission had been accomplished. I was derailed. Just when you think you won their hearts into a love for Biology you realize they effectively got out of thinking for a solid 20 minutes.
I Will Not Be Defeated!
To help me briefly and effectively communicate to my students why they need to learn the content I have dedicated my life to teaching them, I have created two different posters that will help reinforces the “Why”.
Now all I have to do is point to the posters and now you can too!
Download Your Free Poster!
10 Reasons Why You Need to Learn Biology
The following “10 Reasons” are available on two posters (5 reasons on each) that you can print and hang in your classroom. Various sizes are available.
Why Do I Need to Learn Biology?
1.) Improve your ability to learn.
You are going to figure out how you learn best by being challenged in a subject you know little about. Let’s face it, you will eventually need to know how to remember things, write reasonable sentences, problem solve, and be an effective contributor to this world. All of those skills are used in Biology!
2.) Basic knowledge of Biology helps you understand what your body needs to perform optimally and feel your best.
Do you know exactly what you are putting in or on your body? From macronutrients to micronutrients, having a fundamental understanding of the make-up of your body and what it requires can help you live a longer, healthier, happy life.
3.) Biology can help you make informed decisions about your own health.
Healthcare professional are amazing dedicated professionals however, sometimes mistakes are made. Having a fundamental understanding of Biology can help you better understand and communicate with medical professionals. You may even identify an error or suggest an alternate solution…if you understand Biology.
4.) Learn how to follow directions in an efficient manner.
If you don’t know how to do something, what do you do? You may look up the instructions or watch a how-to video. Biology will help improve your ability to interpret directions in a variety of formats and help you solve problems more efficiently.
5.) An understanding of Biology can help keep you safe!
Throughout Biology you will know learn how various molecules can influence cells. Guess what! You are a big lump of cells! Understanding how cells behave in various condition can help you better understand how to care for your body. For example, having some background knowledge of Biology will tell you why you get thirsty when you eat salty food (osmosis) or lots of carbohydrates. Understanding Biology can help you be more in-tune to your body and allow you to detect when something is wrong more quickly (ABCD’s of Skin Cancer, Mitosis). That could save your life!
6.) Biology teaches practical skills that you will use daily.
This subject will teach you how to think logically and solve real-world problems. You will undoubtedly have problems to figure out during your lifetime and the strategies developed in this class will help you solve them. The prerequisite skills learned in this class can apply directly to your everyday tasks. For example,…. almost everything that you do!
7.) Helps you understand current events.
This includes news about energy sources, product recalls (salmonella outbreaks), pollution, genetic engineering, bioethics, the environment, and technological advancements. Do you truly comprehend what is going on in the world today? With a fundamental understanding of Biology, you will be a more educated, well rounded citizen.
8.) It is worth observing things and nature and determine how the function.
“Our world is built on biology and once we begin to understand it, it then becomes a technology.”
-Ryan Bethencourt (scientist, entrepreneur, and biohacker)
Living things have evolved a solution for almost all problems that nature has thrown at them. When we understand how organism are solving problems and solving them human can then harness that “technology” to solve problems of our own like curing disease or finding alternative sources of energy. Being in-tune to Biology could be very lucrative or better yet solve the worlds problems.
9.) Biology builds interpersonal skills and opens up career options.
Interpersonal skills are crucial to be successful in life and in the workplace. In Biology you will learn how to exercise self-awareness, communicate verbally and nonverbally in a clear manner, be respectful of others, show empathy and understanding, engage in active listening, behave appropriately, and be receptive to feedback.
There are many careers in Biology. The skills that you learn and obtain in this class will be helpful in any career that you choose to partake in. You will be dealing with Biology and those skills, regardless of what career(s) you choose in life.
10.) This is a fun subject if you give it a chance.
When some people think of Biology fun may not be the first thing to come into their mind. However, if you give it a chance and truly dive into and develop an understanding of the language and the concepts of Biology you will develop a deep appreciation and amazement of the course and the world the we live in. Biology is you, understanding you and all that you are is simply amazing.
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