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Overview
Why come on this course?
If you have been asked to support (technician) or deliver (teacher) microbiology practical work at KS3, GCSE or post-16, this “hands on” course will provide you with all that is necessary to be able to work safely and confidently.
The course includes:
• Health and Safety guidance to ensure that the COSHH regulations relating to microbes are complied with. We will assume that you are familiar with the basics of H&S management*.
• An opportunity to learn and try out the techniques needed for you to provide safe cultures for students to use and to deal with all microbiological materials safely during and after practical lessons.
* If you are unfamiliar with your roles and responsibilities in relation to H&S we suggest you attend a general H&S course such as the” H&S for science technicians” before attending this one.
Dates and venue
Start Date: 16 December 2013
Venue: Keele Science Learning Centre
Learning Outcomes
What will we do on the course?
The activities are all “hands on”, so please bring a clean long- sleeved lab coat. You will be introduced to the following, but you will obviously need to practice some of the techniques to become really proficient!
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Microbiology practicals with non-aseptic technique, e.g. making yoghurt cultures.
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Preparing sterile agar plates for use in microbiology practicals.
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Aseptic technique to transfer microbes using loops, spreaders and
pipettes.
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Making and using broth and agar slope cultures.
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Separating mixtures of microbes by streak dilution, to identify
different species and to test cultures for contamination.
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Serial dilution followed by making lawn and/or pour plates to
estimate the density of microbes.
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Investigating bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics.
- Sub-culturing to provide viable cultures of safe microbes for student use.
- Sterilising and disposing of materials that have been used in microbiology practicals.
All agar plates and slopes made on the course can be taken away so that you can watch the cultures develop.
Tutor
Viv Hearns
Pre Course Task
Contacts
Keele Science Learning Centre
Keele University
Staffordshire
ST5 5BG
T: 01782 734 429
E: kslc@keele.ac.uk
F: 01782 734 430

