Proposal Title
Using a data-focused active learning worksheet to improve students' understanding of molecular interactions and conformational change
Session Type
Poster
Room
Thames Hall Atrium
Start Date
13-7-2023 4:30 PM
End Date
13-7-2023 6:00 PM
Keywords
biomolecular visualization, structure-function relationships, bioinformatics, active learning, authentic assessment, open educational resource
Primary Threads
Teaching and Learning Science
Abstract
Biomolecular structure-function relationships and their regulation are foundational concepts seen in a wide variety of community-determined educational standards across STEM disciplines. These concepts can be difficult for students to grasp as they require the application of foundational principles of chemistry and physics in a biological context. Active learning has been shown to effectively promote learning through student engagement; thus, we sought to develop an authentic data focused exercise to reinforce these concepts while also promoting scientific process and visual literacy skills. This worksheet guides students as they use publicly available data from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and open access biomolecular visualization tools, to examine different types of ligands (e.g. agonist vs antagonist), the molecular basis of receptor-ligand interactions, the impact they have on receptor conformation and ultimate activity. To date, this lesson has been implemented in two courses (3rd-year pharmacology and toxicology, and biochemistry), though its flexibility makes it ideal for adaptation to a wide variety of courses and teaching approaches. Post-activity surveys conducted in both courses revealed students had a positive perception of this way of learning, felt that it allowed them to better meet the learning objective of their respective courses than lecture alone, and develop transferable skills that would be useful in their future careers. Next steps for this project will include an assessment of the learning gains associated with the implementation of this activity and the development of the activity into a complete molecular case study centered on cannabis use and its pharmacological impacts.
This study is exempt from ethics submission under Article 2.4 of the TCPS2.
Elements of Engagement
At this poster presentation, participants can expect to engage in discussions about data-focused active learning and the role of visual (biomolecular) literacy in science education. Participants are also invited to explore and implement this activity in their classroom contexts.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Using a data-focused active learning worksheet to improve students' understanding of molecular interactions and conformational change
Thames Hall Atrium
Biomolecular structure-function relationships and their regulation are foundational concepts seen in a wide variety of community-determined educational standards across STEM disciplines. These concepts can be difficult for students to grasp as they require the application of foundational principles of chemistry and physics in a biological context. Active learning has been shown to effectively promote learning through student engagement; thus, we sought to develop an authentic data focused exercise to reinforce these concepts while also promoting scientific process and visual literacy skills. This worksheet guides students as they use publicly available data from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and open access biomolecular visualization tools, to examine different types of ligands (e.g. agonist vs antagonist), the molecular basis of receptor-ligand interactions, the impact they have on receptor conformation and ultimate activity. To date, this lesson has been implemented in two courses (3rd-year pharmacology and toxicology, and biochemistry), though its flexibility makes it ideal for adaptation to a wide variety of courses and teaching approaches. Post-activity surveys conducted in both courses revealed students had a positive perception of this way of learning, felt that it allowed them to better meet the learning objective of their respective courses than lecture alone, and develop transferable skills that would be useful in their future careers. Next steps for this project will include an assessment of the learning gains associated with the implementation of this activity and the development of the activity into a complete molecular case study centered on cannabis use and its pharmacological impacts.
This study is exempt from ethics submission under Article 2.4 of the TCPS2.