My first biolab: an inquiry-based learning system for microbiology exploration

Understanding microbiology concepts is highly relevant for everyday life, with wide implications on health and environment. It is believed that these concepts should be taught at high-school level. Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) is a recommended approach for learning scientific concepts, that includes hands-on investigation, performing experiments, and gathering data. IBL is rarely applied in biology learning at schools, mostly due to three aspects: (1) Lack of immediate feedback as microorganisms are invisible; (2) costly equipment; (3) safety regulations. We present "My First Biolab", a novel and accessible system enabling safe and sterile hands-on experimentation with microorganisms, for microbiology concepts through IBL. The system includes a custom-designed nylon bag containing the experiment's biological materials, a magnetic peristaltic pump for circulation, a spectral sensor that monitors bacterial growth, a heat transfer plate for temperature control, and a smartphone UI for setting and monitoring the experiment in real-time.