Magnetic phenomena and living systems in the bio area degrees

An educational path was designed aiming to improve students of the Bio areas in the comprehension of basic concepts of magnetism and developing a functional understanding of these concepts applied in the specific context of study and their work profession. A pilot study involved at the University of Udine students of the agro-food degrees to analyze how they faced magnetic concepts and they 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 found 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 the cases, they showed competencies in use concepts as magnetic field and interaction to discuss in context examples for their own study subjects. Some difficulties in distinguishing the magnetic effects by electrostatic ones emerged, as well the need to be conscious of the strength, complexity and role of the magnetic phenomena involving different scale levels at the same time.