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Teaching Meiosis With The Dna Triangle Framework: A Classroom Activity That Changes How Students Think About Chromosomes, Leslie Kate Wright, Paulina Cortez, Margaret A. Franzen, Dina L. Newman Oct 2021

Teaching Meiosis With The Dna Triangle Framework: A Classroom Activity That Changes How Students Think About Chromosomes, Leslie Kate Wright, Paulina Cortez, Margaret A. Franzen, Dina L. Newman

Articles

Many biology students struggle to learn about the process of meiosis and have particular difficulty understanding the molecular basis of crossing over and the importance of homologous pairing for proper segregation. To help students overcome these challenges, we designed an activity that uses a newly developed Chromosome Connections Kit® from 3-D Molecular Designs to allow learners to explore meiosis at the molecular level. We took a backwards design approach in constructing an effective classroom activity. We developed evidence-based learning objectives and designed a crossing over activity that targets students' misconceptions and key concepts about meiosis. Assessment questions were designed based …


International Collaborations: Inspiring Active Learning In Higher Education, Caroline Ferguson, Robert Hickey, Shaun Ferns, Robert Savelle Sep 2019

International Collaborations: Inspiring Active Learning In Higher Education, Caroline Ferguson, Robert Hickey, Shaun Ferns, Robert Savelle

Articles

International collaborations can present various challenges; however, with strong leadership and support, as well as through leveraging a variety of online collaborative tools, the results can be great. In this paper, we discuss the process involved in the design, development, and utilization of an openly available active learning handbook that was created by colleagues at three institutions: one in Dublin, Ireland and two in Oshawa, Canada. We discuss the journey that inspired this collaborative project and address some of the unique issues around post-conference collaborations. To conclude, we highlight some applications of the handbook across our institutions and beyond.


Physical Models Can Provide Superior Learning Opportunities Beyond The Benefits Of Active Engagements, Dina L. Newman, Megan Stefkovich, Catherine Clasen, Margaret A. Franzen, Leslie Kate Wright Oct 2018

Physical Models Can Provide Superior Learning Opportunities Beyond The Benefits Of Active Engagements, Dina L. Newman, Megan Stefkovich, Catherine Clasen, Margaret A. Franzen, Leslie Kate Wright

Articles

The essence of molecular biology education lies in understanding of gene expression, with subtopics including the central dogma processes, such as transcription and translation. While these concepts are core to the discipline, they are also notoriously difficult for students to learn, probably because they cannot be directly observed. While nearly all active learning strategies have been shown to improve learning compared with passive lectures, little has been done to compare different types of active learning. We hypothesized that physical models of central dogma processes would be especially helpful for learning, because they provide a resource that students can see, touch, …


Using Model Building In Structural Engineering To Enhance Understanding Of Construction Principles And Methods, Niall Holmes, Henry Mullen Jan 2013

Using Model Building In Structural Engineering To Enhance Understanding Of Construction Principles And Methods, Niall Holmes, Henry Mullen

Articles

This paper presents a new model building exercise in a second year module in the Department of Civil & Structural Engineering in the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). The activity aimed to improve students’ understanding of structural engineering, construction principles and methods. It allowed students to practically apply lecture material and construct a scaled model giving them an opportunity to study and visualise a real structure and generate their own ideas on how it should be assembled within a constructivist active learning environment. As a result, lectures were found to be more interactive and students more engaged in the discussions …


A Walk Down The Red Carpet: Students As Producers Of Digital Video-Based Knowledge., Barry Ryan Jan 2013

A Walk Down The Red Carpet: Students As Producers Of Digital Video-Based Knowledge., Barry Ryan

Articles

Disengaged and apathetic students are common in many undergraduate classrooms. Learning to these students is a passive process, typified by a consumer-like attitude. One approach to engage students, and enhance the learning experience, is to integrate active learning into the curriculum. The purpose of the pedagogical evaluative study described here was to investigate if student researched, designed and created digital video could act as a viable reusable peer learning resource. Although the use and integration of technology was central to the scope of this project, other ideas such as threshold concepts, the requirement for both active and authentic social constructivist …