Abstract
We have established a comprehensive LEARNBIOCHEM e-learning platform for biochemistry courses (www.bch.cuhk.edu.hk/learnbiochem). To further facilitate teaching and student-teacher interaction, we propose to further develop the platform for flipped classroom activities for several selected laboratory and capstone courses. This will be achieved by (1) enriching existing videos on laboratory techniques with additional contents of slideshows, lab precautions, instructions, explanation and guiding notes, (2) adding pre-lab talks on the principles of the experiments, (3) adding experience sharing sessions on scientific writing and oral presentation skills, (4) generating quizzes and designing in-class activities for the concerned courses. These added contents will be mobile device compatible for easy access.
Our objectives are:
- To facilitate self-learning so that face-to-face class time will be used to its utmost in student-teacher and student-student interaction.
- The additional contents on laboratory techniques, pre-lab talks, sharing sessions and quizzes will facilitate instructors and demonstrators in teaching.
- The contents may be used by other life science students for improving the relevant skills.
Brief write-up
Project objectives
To further facilitate teaching and student-teacher interactions, we further enriched the platform and developed flipped classroom activities for several selected laboratory and capstone courses.
- To facilitate self-learning so that face-to-face class time will be used to its utmost in student-teacher and student-student interaction.
- To share the contents for other life science students to improve their generic and technical skills.
Activities, process and outcomes
A total of 21 Pre-lab talks and quizzes on the principles of the experiments were developed. For each laboratory course, students were asked to complete pre-class exercise and/or pre-lab talk videos before attending class, while pre-lab quizzes were conducted in laboratory classes. In-class activities were arranged by instructors.
15 sharing talks on scientific writing and oral presentation skills were enriched for two courses aiming at improving the professional and generic skills of the students. They were posted on eLearning platform Learnbiochem for access.
Homepage of Learnbiochem was re-designed with search function. This function allows students to search their videos on laboratory techniques by courses, by keywords and by modules.
Deliverables and evaluation
Pre-lab talks and quizzes were evaluated for four laboratory courses. Positive feedback on survey indicated that the project outcomes have met our objectives. Evaluation for other courses will be carried out.
Dissemination, diffusion, impact and sharing of good practices
Poster presentation was carried out to share the process, outcome and the evaluation results of flipped classroom activities in the Teaching and Learning Innovation Expo 2017 at CUHK.
Poster presentation was carried out by Dr. Patrick Ngai with title: Implementation of Flipped Classroom in Undergraduate Biochemistry Courses in Conference: Designing Effective Teaching held by International Teaching Learning Cooperative (ITLC) in May 2018. Place of Conference: Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Pre-lab talks and sharing talks were posted to blackboard and “LE@RNBiochem”, the eLearning platform of Biochemistry Programmed respectively. Biochemistry students and students in other life science programmes can access with their login.
