Comment on Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):5-10. Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):75-81. Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):11-18. Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):83-88.

Recently, digital technology and digital materials have started to be widely used in education from primary school to college worldwide. Microlearning is one of the innovative teaching techniques that use digital technologies. In this review, benefits and disadvantages of microlearning is discussed. Many studies show that microlearning facilitated learning by dividing into smaller pieces encourages students to study. A wide range of activities might be used in this technique and it can be easily integrated into daily routine, it allows on-demand learning for the students. On the other hand, the success of microlearning techniques is closely related to the personal characteristics of learners, teachers' prone to use digital technology and the external factors such as access to learning materials. Its effectiveness on behavior and outcome which were defined in the third and fourth levels of Kirkpatrick's learning model is still obscure. In the light of the literature, it should be decided which microlearning method will be used for which educational subjects.

Comment in Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):1-3.

Comment in Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):1-3.

The present paper addresses a case study on the implementation of an online learning exercise utilising infographics in undergraduate Biochemistry and General Chemistry courses at the University of Roehampton (UoR) and Hostos Community College (HCC) of the City University of New York (CUNY). Students at UoR were asked to create infographics on topics related to the four major classes of biomolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids, and these infographics were shared with HCC students in an active learning exercise which incorporated peer evaluation and feedback. We highlight the various teaching and learning strategies, as well as the challenges related to the implementation of digital tools, in the educational process during the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain student engagement and active learning. Student feedback revealed positive learning gains on biochemistry concepts related to the four biomolecules. The exercise was viewed favourably by students, with learners indicating the acquisition of digital skills to effectively represent and visualise their understanding of biochemical concepts and explain these processes to peers.

The use of LEGO® bricks in the higher education classroom has increased in the last two decades. This is no different in the STEM classroom and several disciplines, including physics, chemistry, and biology, have all made use of LEGO® bricks in some way to create models for active learning activities. Currently, the discipline to make the greatest use of LEGO® bricks is chemistry; only limited examples exist in biochemistry and the molecular life sciences. Here, we present the use of a LEGO® brick modelling activity in the introductory biochemistry classroom during the teaching of metabolism. We present student comments on the activity and the models that were generated by the students. Additionally, we focus on other instructor and project student-designed models for the teaching of ATP synthesis, gene regulation and restriction digestion. Interestingly, both the gene regulation and restriction digest activities were generated with the help of undergraduate students or recent graduates, by applying a backward design approach. This case study seeks to encourage more molecular life science educators to adopt the use of LEGO® bricks in their classrooms to engage in more active learning.

We describe the use of HTML5P (H5P) content collaboration framework to deliver an interactive, online alternative to an assessed laboratory practical on the Biomedical Cell Biology unit at the Manchester Metropolitan University, U.K. H5P is free, open-source technology to deliver bespoke interactive, self-paced online sessions. To determine if the use of H5P affected learning and student attainment, we compared the student grades among three cohorts: the 18/19 cohort who had 'wet' laboratory classes, the 19/20 cohort who had 'wet' laboratory classes with additional video support and the 20/21 cohort who had the H5P alternative. Our analysis shows that students using the H5P were not at a disadvantage to students who had 'wet' laboratory classes with regard to assessment outcomes. Student feedback, mean grade attained and an upward trend in the number of students achieving first-class marks (≥70%), indicate H5P may enhance students' learning experience and be a valuable learning source augmenting traditional practical classes in the future.

Comment in Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):1-3.

Acquiring skills needed to plan and conduct research and communicate research outcomes are key learning aims in biochemical and biomedical disciplines. Final-year projects/dissertations are high-impact educational activities that commonly feature in undergraduate curricula. When cohort sizes exceed infrastructure and staff capacity, traditional models of supervised projects may not be feasible. This case study aims to share one model of practice with colleagues similarly engaged in design and delivery of final-year projects and research. Here, we outline the implementation and evaluation of a team-based, final-year research module on a transnational joint programme. Investigative Skills module was piloted in 2016-2017 and continues to run annually for >100 students. The research component is conducted over a timetabled, two-week block. In student questionnaires, the majority of respondents agreed that the projects were authentic, interesting and appropriate. The favourite aspect for most of the respondents was performing experimental work/doing research. Over 80% agreed that working in teams was conducive to accomplishing their goals, and their ideal team size is three to five students per team. The majority agreed that there was sufficient experimental work to do, but that more than two weeks practical time would be beneficial. The feedback has given insight into the whole of the student research experience of Investigative Skills, which is a sustainable model for authentic dissertation research for large cohorts.

Comment in Essays Biochem. 2022 Apr 29;66(1):1-3.

More inclusive, authentic assessments are required to address awarding gaps and to ensure that bioscience students can apply their knowledge to relevant work-based scenarios. In this case report, we present a co-created approach to designing a more inclusive, virtual biochemistry lab assessment for a diverse cohort of ∼270 first-year students. The assignment was to write up an inclusive clinical case study as a one-page journal article. A flipped classroom approach taught the relevant skills, along with simulated labs from Learning Science Ltd. Student Lecturers co-created the assessment, including the marking rubric and the unexemplars. We replaced traditional feedback with a flipped, feed-in approach where students were able to engage in a formative assessment with peer marking and unexemplars. Whilst the summative assessment was marked anonymously, a dialogue-based approach was employed, where students could request personalised audio feed-forward from the tutor. The high pass rate (97%) and student satisfaction score (88%) suggest that this approach is an effective way to challenge, engage and support a large, diverse cohort of students. First-year students who participated in the flipped feed-in experience obtained a significantly higher summative mark (56.7% cf. 50.9%) than those who did not. Interestingly, students in receipt of learning adjustments scored higher marks on average in the summative assessment (59.3% cf. 54.3%), suggesting that we have reversed the disability-based attainment gap. Further investigation into whether a co-created, flipped feed-in approach can reduce attainment gaps based on ethnicity, gender and age is warranted.