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Using "Adopt a Bacterium" as an e-learning tool for simultaneously teaching microbiology to different health-related
Hadassa Cristhina de Azevedo Soares Dos Santos1,2, Bárbara Rodrigues Cintra Armellini1, Giovanna Lello Naves2
1Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1374, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
FEMS Microbiology Letters
|May 25, 2024
Summary
This study shows that the remote "Adopt a Bacterium" method enhanced student engagement and knowledge sharing in undergraduate microbiology. This active learning approach proved effective for distance education in health sciences.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology Education
- Distance Learning
- Health Sciences Pedagogy
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional undergraduate education, necessitating innovative remote teaching strategies.
- Effective remote learning requires active methodologies to maintain student engagement and facilitate knowledge acquisition.
- Microbiology courses, crucial for health sciences, faced unique challenges in online environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of the remote "Adopt a Bacterium" methodology in an undergraduate microbiology course.
- To assess the impact of this active learning strategy on student participation and knowledge acquisition across diverse health-related fields.
- To explore the potential of digital platforms, like Google Sites, in facilitating remote collaborative learning.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of the "Adopt a Bacterium" methodology using Google Sites for remote undergraduate microbiology instruction.
- Utilizing word cloud analysis and the Shannon index to measure student participation and discourse richness.
- Gathering student feedback on the e-learning experience and its motivational impact.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in student participation in microbiology discussions was observed.
- The remote methodology effectively fostered specialized knowledge acquisition within individual health science courses.
- Student feedback indicated high levels of motivation and involvement with the e-learning approach.
- The study demonstrated enhanced knowledge sharing among students from veterinary, physiotherapy, nursing, biomedicine, and nutrition programs.
Conclusions:
- The remote "Adopt a Bacterium" methodology is a valuable and effective resource for distance microbiology education.
- This active learning strategy successfully facilitated interdisciplinary knowledge sharing among undergraduate health science students.
- The approach proved successful in engaging students and promoting deeper learning in a remote setting.
