Strategies for delivering science laboratory teaching in a fully online mode during the COVID-19 pandemic
1) Students cannot attend laboratory session on-site 2) Risk of passive student engagement in an online space
Creation of digital learning resources 1) Bring our lab to the students( virtually)- Fig. 1
2) Demonstration of commonly used scientific techniques- Fig. 2 3) Interactive lessons integrating both immersive 3D model and technique videos- Fig. 3
Figure 1: 3D model of the lab with practical setup for first year Biology course – BABS1201.
3D model of the Laboratory
Figure 2: Technique videos demonstrating laboratory practices.
Figure 3: Interactive immersive lesson where students are introduced to laboratory practices using both the virtual lab model and technique videos.
Interactive lessons for 1 st yr Biology course
Virtual AND at home 1) Design AT HOME practical experiment where students investigate practical concepts using common household items – Fig. 4 2) Participation-based online session encourages student contribution using Jamboard – Fig. 5 and student feedback – Fig. 6
Figure 4: At home fermentation experiment using common household items such as corn starch, sugar, malt and zip-locked bag( designed by John Wilson for BABS1202).
Figure 5: Jamboard slides with interactive learning activities in tabular format, Venn diagram, images and regulatory pathways( designed by Lana Ly for BIOC2201).
Figure 6: Student feedback on the use of interactive Jamboard( provided by Lana Ly and Liam Cheney).
Outcome
Development of engaging teaching practices and sustainable online learning resources that can, by design, be used in multiple courses or contexts( teaching, training and outreach).
Dr Gee Chong Ling( g. ling @ unsw. edu. au) & Dr Tammy Tang School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Science