A remote undergraduate biology seminar on SARS‐CoV‐2 literature. Issue 3 (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leri, Alessandra C.
• Is Part Of: Biochemistry and molecular biology education. Volume 49:Issue 3(2021)
• Page Start: 313
• Page End: 315
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: active learning -- biology seminar -- biotechnology education -- COVID‐19 -- curriculum design -- distance learning -- integration of research into undergraduate teaching -- journal club -- learning and Web‐based learning -- remote learning; Biochemistry -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Molecular biology -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; 572.071
• DOI: 10.1002/bmb.21503
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-8175

Abstract

Abstract: At our small liberal arts college, we require undergraduates majoring in Biology and Biomedical Sciences to take a seminar in the spring of their senior year. Each year, the seminar focuses on a different topic in molecular biology and/or biochemistry. The course operates as a "journal club"—every week, a student presents a peer‐reviewed research article, and the instructor moderates a discussion. When the transition to remote learning occurred due to the COVID‐19 pandemic in March 2020, the seminar meetings were moved online to a Zoom‐based platform, and the course topic was changed to focus on emerging research regarding the novel coronavirus. The continuation of the Biology senior seminar in a remote context was straightforward, and the SARS‐CoV‐2 virus furnished a rich theme for exploration of diverse topics in molecular biology and genetics.