Remote Learning
Molecular Biology Remote Learning
The Molecular Biology: Concepts for Inquiry curriculum can be readily adapted for remote learning in online classes:
- The textbook, workbook, and teacher's guide are being made available for free Kindle eBook download on select days during coronavirus school closures -see dates below.
- The Molecular Biology: Concepts for Inquiry textbook (paperback or ebook) is designed to be used in lieu of direct lecture. The eBook can be read on any device with a Kindle app. It can also mostly be read through the Kindle Cloud Reader website, but this figure-intensive book can sometimes stretch the website to the limit and have minor issues. The Kindle app on a laptop, color tablet, or phone seems to be robust with this work. Figures can be zoomed into and notes can be added.
- In my classes, I have effectively encouraged reading of the textbook and class preparedness using the online self-assessment quizzes available in this Google classroom. Instructors may contact me to receive copies of the Google quizzes that they may modify and distribute to their classes. These quizzes are automatically graded by the Google quiz software. I personally grade them as complete/incomplete and award bonus points to the student(s) with the highest scores on each quiz.
- The Discussion Questions in the Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: The Exploration Workbook provide the basis for class discussions that clarify and expand upon the textbook readings. An instructor could assign textbook readings to be due before an online class session, check student reading through the online quizzes, and use the Discussion Questions as the basis for an online classroom discussion. The Unit Self-Assessment Questions and answers in the Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: The Exploration Workbook provide another way for students to assess their own comprehension and bring questions to online class discussions.
- Screen sharing through an online platform like Zoom would allow students to view textbook figures along with the instructor during online discussions. The instructor could either share views of figures in the Kindle eBook or slide sets of figures are available upon request.
- Class Activities in the Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: The Exploration Workbook are ideal for students to work on together online with periodic instructor guidance. Through an online platform like Zoom, an instructor can assign groups of students to separate online breakout rooms where they can work together in small groups. The instructor can then check in on the groups as they work through problems together. The Class Activities prompt students to check in with their instructor at certain points. The instructor can also bring the full online class back together out of their breakout rooms when needed.
- Although wet lab molecular biology experiments aren't easily possible online, many of the Class Activities in the Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: The Exploration Workbook are either pre-lab analysis/engineering design of experiments and/or post-lab analyses of sample data from actual experiments. One of the goals of this curriculum is to teach the basics skills of a genetic engineer or molecular biologist and many of the Class Activities are oriented toward this goal.
- Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: A Guide to Inquiry contains a complete 5E inquiry curriculum plan for the instructor, annotated workbook pages, and answer keys to all workbook material. An online instructor could use the curriculum plan as the foundation for their online course. The at-a-glance icons that annotate copies of the student workbook pages can help an online instructor to know how and when to check in on and guide students through Class Activities. Extensive commentary is provided to highlight typical student thought processes and misunderstandings.
- Because this is a 5E inquiry curriculum, it has the potential to provide a much more effective learning experience for students than textbook reading or online lecture alone.
Contact Me to learn more or to inquire about future webinars to further discuss teaching molecular biology in online courses.
Molecular Biology: Concepts for Inquiry textbook, workbook, and teacher's curriculum guide have been published in paperback and eBook formats on Amazon. The Molecular Biology: Concepts for Inquiry textbook deeply explores concepts in 266 pages, which includes over 170 color figures. Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: The Exploration Workbook includes inquiry activities, discussion questions, and self-assessments. Molecular Biology Concepts for Inquiry: A Guide to Inquiry contains a 5E inquiry curriculum plan, annotated workbook pages, and answer keys. Together, these provide a complete 5E inquiry curriculum plan and resources to support an introductory college-level molecular biology course. Experiment suggestions and protocols are available and their role in the inquiry learning process is included in the teacher's guide. Students may join the Google classroom to access self-assessment quizzes. Instructors may contact me to receive copies of the Google quizzes that they may modify and distribute to their classes and to receive slide sets of textbook figures.