Incorporating a collaborative web-based virtual laboratory in an undergraduate bioinformatics course

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics Education
• Computational Biology Pedagogy

Background:

• Traditional bioinformatics courses use in-person labs for active learning and skill development.
• Online bioinformatics courses utilize offsite hands-on exercises.
• Combining face-to-face lectures with virtual labs offers new collaborative learning avenues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effectiveness of a web-based virtual laboratory in an in-person undergraduate bioinformatics course.
• To assess the impact of a collaborative virtual lab on active learning and peer support.

Main Methods:

• An in-person, lecture-only undergraduate bioinformatics course was enhanced with a remote, web-based laboratory.
• A student survey was administered near the end of the semester to test the hypothesis.

Main Results:

• Students reported significant benefits from the online virtual laboratory.
• Strong positive feedback was received regarding peer-provided technical support.
• Students preferred the virtual lab over traditional in-person labs by a two-to-one margin.

Conclusions:

• The integration of a collaborative virtual laboratory effectively fosters active learning and peer support in bioinformatics education.
• This hybrid model presents a viable and preferred alternative to traditional in-person teaching labs.
• The study encourages further exploration and implementation of online collaborative laboratories in bioinformatics training.