How to Set Up a Microbiology Lab

Setting up a microbiology lab can take time for a new teacher, but as the year progresses, it does become easier. Once the teacher works out a system, this system can be implemented in following years since microbiology labs generally use the same labs year after year to demonstrate important topics. An important tool to use is the Microbiology Lab Manual; this will help teachers plan their lectures and set up lab experiments.

Things You'll Need

  • Microbiology Lab Manual
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Instructions

    • 1

      Read the lesson plan for the week's topic and experiment. This information can be used as a guide to develop a lecture presentation and notes. Make sure to cover the topic succinctly with pictures and calculation problems so students will have a general idea of what they need to know.

    • 2
      In general, microbiology labs deal with live bacteria, so when working through the experiments, make sure students wear the safety gear as described in the lab manual.

      Focus on the experiment next. In most university labs, the materials are already laid out for the class, but always make sure there are enough petri dishes, microscopes, swabs, etc. for the amount of students in the class. Make sure there are extra supplies for the experiment as well as for items students are responsible for, such as lab apron, gloves and goggles; there will be a few students who either forget or haven't bought the supplies yet.

    • 3

      Make sure the computer and the projector you will be using to display your presentation are working. Just because the computer is on does not mean it is working properly and will load the presentation correctly. Always load the presentation and check to make sure the pictures and animations show up.

    • 4
      Whether inoculating broth or agar, always do a set so if all else fails and the students' cultures don't grow, there is something to fall back on.

      Always do the petri dish or broth culture the students are expected to do in the experiment if they are expected to use the growth off their cultures in the next class. This ensures if some of the students' cultures don't grow or are contaminated, they can pick bacterial colonies off the teacher plates.

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