ENGAGING STUDENT ATTENTION WITH ACTIVE LEARNING AND CREATIVE PROJECTS IN PARASITOLOGY COURSES

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Medical Education

Background:

• Undergraduate parasitology courses face engagement challenges due to student diversity, learning styles, and complex subject matter.
• Distractions like social media and the need to memorize scientific nomenclature and life cycles impede learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore active learning strategies and creative projects for improving undergraduate parasitology education.
• To provide practical examples of engaging pedagogical approaches for parasitology instruction.

Main Methods:

• Implementing active learning pedagogy within the classroom.
• Assigning creative projects for out-of-classroom engagement.
• Comparing outcomes with traditional lecture-based methods.

Main Results:

• Active learning and creative projects foster greater student participation and engagement.
• These strategies lead to positive learning outcomes compared to traditional lectures.
• Enhanced knowledge retention and understanding of complex parasitic life cycles.

Conclusions:

• Active learning and creative projects are effective tools for overcoming challenges in undergraduate parasitology.
• These student-centered approaches make learning more enjoyable and memorable.
• Educators can utilize these strategies to improve overall course effectiveness and student success.