POGIL and the Microbiome

POGIL, or process-oriented guided inquiry learning, is a pedagogical technique created over thirty years ago to enhance student engagement. POGIL is a student-centered approach that improves students’ learning and professional skills. POGIL activities incorporate the classic learning model with recurrent actions of exploration, concept invention, and application to encourage student inquiry. The microbiome represents the total collection of microbes associated with living organisms in distinct locations. The balance of microorganisms at the population level impacts an organism’s health and disease disposition. Enrichment or reduction of specific bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the human population accurately predicts normal or abnormal physiological functions. There is a lack of literature regarding POGIL and microbiome sciences. Thus, this article will elucidate the advantages of developing and integrating microbiome-focused POGIL assignments in institutions of higher learning. The development of additional POGIL activities will improve the understanding of microbiome concepts and experiments designed to explore the composition and functions of the microbiome in various plant and animal ecosystems. Additional educational research on the effects of POGIL activities on student outcomes will boost acceptance of this collaborative learning technique