An outreach activity to enhance biochemistry pedagogy

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry Education
• Science Outreach
• Undergraduate Learning

Background:

• Student motivation in science is enhanced by connecting theoretical knowledge with practical, real-world applications.
• Traditional biochemistry curricula may not always effectively integrate opportunities for developing crucial soft skills alongside disciplinary content mastery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a newborn screening-focused outreach activity designed for undergraduate biochemistry majors.
• To assess the activity's effectiveness in developing students' mastery of biochemistry content.
• To evaluate the enhancement of students' soft skills, including critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and community engagement, thereby increasing overall student engagement.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a hands-on, community-focused outreach program centered on newborn screening principles.
• Integration of theoretical biochemistry concepts with practical application through the outreach activity.
• Assessment of student learning gains in both disciplinary knowledge and soft skills.

Main Results:

• The newborn screening outreach activity successfully connected theoretical biochemistry concepts to real-world applications.
• Students demonstrated improved mastery of relevant biochemical principles and enhanced soft skills.
• Increased student engagement and motivation were observed as a direct result of the experiential learning opportunity.

Conclusions:

• Experiential learning activities, such as newborn screening outreach, are effective in motivating biochemistry students.
• Integrating real-world applications into the curriculum significantly boosts both content mastery and soft skill development.
• Outreach programs provide a valuable platform for enhancing student engagement and preparing future scientists for diverse roles.