Savremena International School students as forensic scientists

Have you ever wondered how forensic scientists solve cases in crime shows? Sometimes, it’s like they visit the crime scene, wave a magic wand and solve the case. But what truly lies behind that magic wand of theirs and what happens behind the scenes at the laboratory?

These and many other questions, Savremena’s students were able to find answers to on Tuesday the 19th of January during their biology class when they visited the Little School of DNAology.

What new and interesting things did students learn at the Little School of DNAology?

Thanks to the excellent organisational skills of the hosts, Savremena’s students were able to learn about the techniques of isolating and analysing DNA.

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After a short presentation, the students were separated into groups. Right from the start, the “Who ate my sandwich?” game got students interested and made them think like forensic investigators. To find the culprit, each group was given four DNA samples - one of which was from the person who committed the “crime” while the other samples were from the three suspects.

Laboratory practice

Slika_44At the laboratory, students first learned how to use the lab equipment - the pipette and the eppendorf tube, upon which they practiced their pipetting skills. In each tube, they added certain substances (buffer solutions,restriction enzymes etc.) and after that the DNA was put through gel electrophoresis.

As the DNA traveled through the gel, students had the opportunity to isolate their own DNA from their saliva. Then they analysed their saliva and examined it under a microscope. They really liked the fact that after learning about them in their biology class they could see their own DNA string and their own genetic material after a simple analysis.

Experiment results

After 30 minutes, the gel with the samples which depending on their size had moved from their initial positions was examined in a dark room under a UV lamp. It was then photographed with a CCD camera and the results were printed out.Slika_38

By comparing the DNA of the suspects and the perpetrator, the students determined who had been the hungriest.

Why this kind of learning is useful for students?

Everything students were able to see in movies and on TV seemed too complex to understand but now it was all made easy and clear. In addition, everything they had learned in their biology classes was applied in practice and thus nested deeply into their memory.

The students said that the Little School of DNAology was interesting, exciting and very useful. This kind of teaching enables students to find a link between theoretical knowledge and practical skills and it thus helps them acquire knowledge in the easiest way possible.

More pictures in our gallery.

I am extremely pleased and proud to be the parent of a Savremena student. During my first encounter with the school management, when I asked about my child’s potential enrolment, I saw how much love, enthusiasm and professionalism you put in your work. I was impressed by your approach, ideas and methods. I couldn’t believe something like this existed in our country! It doesn’t take long to realise that this is a school you would recommend to everyone. Creativity, modern technology, top-quality education, and most of all, the humaneness that can be seen throughout the school, make it truly different and worthy of its name – Savremena Gimnazija. With such an approach, the success of this school and, consequently, our children’s success, is unavoidable. Congratulations! Jelena Đorđević, Andrija’s mum
Contemporary in any sense of the word, our school offers functional knowledge and quality preparation for tertiary education in Serbia and abroad. Implementing modern and creative teaching in the classroom, where the teachers’ pedagogy and students’ performance are aligned with the highest academic standards for the high-school finals, our school develops linguistic, mathematical, scientific, artistic, cultural, technical and ICT competence, which is a prerequisite for further education and professional development. Teaching is supported by the interactive whiteboards and educational software, whereas practice exercises research and critical thinking.