Magnetic phenomena and living systems in the bio area degrees

An educational path was designed aiming to improve the comprehension of basic concepts of magnetism of students of the Bio areas and developing a functional understanding of these concepts applied in the specific context of study and their work profession. A pilot study at the University of Udine involved students of agro-food degrees to analyse how they considered magnetic concepts and their use in their own area of study. In the final examination, they were requested to exemplify and to discuss in which contexts of their own area of study magnetic phenomena are involved. The students identified a wide spectrum of contexts in which magnetic concepts can be actualized at four different scales: astronomical/planetary, human/animal, cellular and atomic/nuclear. In the majority of cases, they showed competencies in using concepts like magnetic field and interaction to discuss in context examples in their own areas of study. Some difficulties in distinguishing magnetic effects from electrostatic effects emerged, as well as the need to be conscious of the strength, complexity and role of magnetic phenomena involving different scale levels at the same time.