Virtual Microbiology Classroom: 8-week micro course from Science Prof Online

What Are the SPO Virtual Classrooms?

Science Prof Online offers FREE fully-developed science curricula, including the Virtual Microbiology Classroom 8-week course featured on this page. (Click here for 16-week micro course), the Virtual Cell Biology Classroom and the Virtual Biology Classroom.

Virtual Microbiology Classroom

Materials for an 8-week Micro Course from Science Prof Online

SCIENCE PHOTOS

Other Great Microbiology Stuff!

Todar's Online Textbook of Microbiology.

Bacterial Pathogen Pronunciation Station from A.T. Still University.

Microbe Wiki, Kenyon College.

I Love Bacteria website.

Microbe World, American Society of Microbiology.

The Virtual Interactive Bacteriology Laboratory by Dr. Cindy Grove Arvidson, Ph.D., Michigan State University.

Monsters Inside Me television show on Animal Planet.

Pandemic epidemiology board game from Z-Man Games

Microbiology Flashcards from Quizlet.

For additional resources see our Microbiology Education Links page.

Page last updated 3/2016

Photographic guides to differential stains

now available!

1. Gram Stain

2. Acid-fast Stain

3. Endopsore Stain

What might happen if a deadly new infectious disease hit the scene?

The film "Contagion" provides an excellent opportunity to learn about infectious disease, how it spreads and which organizations would be involved in tracking and controlling a dangerous outbreak.

Completing the "Contagion" Homework Assignment will help you better understand this complex film.

SPO VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS

The Virtual Microbiology Classroom also offers laboratory material, featured below. The laboratory PowerPoints contain many helpful photos of materials viewed in lab.

New resources are regularly added to the Virtual Microbiology Classroom. For updates, follow us on Twitter @ScienceProfSPO.

Virtual Microbiology Classroom

LECTURE TOPICS

Each title below is a link to all of the lecture-related course materials on that particular subject.

The Virtual Microbiology Classroom is organized by lecture into several topics. Each lecture topic typically includes free:

PowerPoint lecture

study guide

class note articles

practice test and review questions

homework assignments

SCIENCE VIDEOS

Virtual Microbiology Classroom

LAB TOPICS

LAB #1: How to Use a Compound Microscope

Basic microscopy and viewing bacterial simple stain.

LAB #2: Gram Staining & Isolation Streak Plate Method

First lab in the series on identifying unknown bacteria. Students learn how to create a bacterial smear and preform the Gram stain, with controls and an unknown. Isolation streak plate technique also introduced.

LAB #3: Differential Staining & Specialized Media

Second lab in a series on identifying unknown bacteria. Students are introduced to the Acid-fast and Endospore stains. Specialized media (MacConkey's & Mannitol Salt) are inoculated with unknown to assist in identification of unknown bacteria using a dichotomous key.

MICROBIOLOGY HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

1. Fresh Air audio interview of Dr. Martin Blaser; Missing Microbes Homework Assignment

2. "Rodney vs Death" Radiolab episode; Homework Assignment

3. "Shrink" Radiolab episode; HW Assignment

4. "Patient Zero" Radiolab episode; HW Assignment

5. "Parasites" Radiolab episode, HW Assignment

6. Bacteria Classification Spreadsheet

7. Differential Media & Stains Study Table

8. "Contagion" Movie Assignment

9. "CRISPR" Radiolab episode, HW Assignment

Need Help Pronouncing the Crazy Scientific Names of Microbes?

Visit the

Bacterial Pathogen Pronunciation Station!

SMARTY PANTS!

Smarty-Pants

SHOUT OUT!

Here is the list of countries and US states that have the top 4 number of SPO visitors!

<<<

Congrats you bunch of brainiacs!

Our current

Smarty-Pants Science Reading Pick:

The Ghost Map

Steven Johnson

Smarty-Pants!

6/2015 - 12/31/15

Top

Countries:

#1 US

#2 Philippines

#3 UK

#4 India

Top US States:

#1 CA

#2 NJ

#3 WA

#4 NY

LECTURE Topic - Meet the Microbes: Eukaryotes

LECTURE Topic - Microbial Metabolism & Growth

LECTURE Topic - Microbial Genetics

LECTURE Topic - Virus Structure

LECTURE Topic - Virus Life Cycle

LECTURE Topic – Meet the Microbes: Viruses

LECTURE Topic - Immunology - Innate & Acquired

More Microbiology Lecture Resources

Sample Applied Microbiology Syllabus

Sample Applied Microbiology Class Schedule

Microbiology Course Study Guide.

Homework Assignment based on NPR story "Hospitals Fight Superbugs' Spread".

Monsters Inside Me HW Assignments Part 1 & Part 2

Microbiology Recommended Reading List

LECTURE Topic - Intro to Microbiology

LECTURE Topic – History of Microbiology

LECTURE Topic – Prokaryote Cell Structure & Function

LECTURE Topic – Eukaryote Cell Structure & Function

LECTURE Topic - Biological Classification

LECTURE Topic - Meet the Microbes: Prokaryotes

LAB #4: Bacterial Growth Media & Cultures

Third lab in a series on identifying unknown bacteria. Students learn how to create controls showing various bacteria plated on MacConkeys, Mannitol Salt, Blood Agar & Tryptic Soy Agar. Students collect and interpret samples of normal flora from their own bodies.

LAB #5: Microbial Control: How to Kill Bacteria

Experiments in using heat, ultra-violet radiation, antibiotics and chemical disinfectants to kill bacteria.

LAB #6: Immunology - Leukocytes, Antibodies & Blood Typing

Students learn about the cells involved in immune response, as well as antibody-antigen interaction by playing a virtual blood typing game and viewing leukocytes with the microscope.

More Microbiology Laboratory Resources