A toolbox for digitally enhanced teaching in synthetic biology

FEMS Microbiol Lett. 2021 Sep 14;368(17):fnab115. doi: 10.1093/femsle/fnab115.

Abstract

The global pandemic of COVID-19 has forced educational provision to suddenly shift to a digital environment all around the globe. During these extraordinary times of teaching and learning both the challenges and the opportunities of embedding technologically enhanced education permanently became evident. Even though reinforced by constraints due to the pandemic, teaching through digital tools increases the portfolio of approaches to reach learning outcomes in general. In order to reap the full benefits, this Minireview displays various initiatives and tools for distance education in the area of Synthetic Biology in higher education while taking into account specific constraints of teaching Synthetic Biology from a distance, such as collaboration, laboratory and practical experiences. The displayed teaching resources can benefit current and future educators and raise awareness about a diversified inventory of teaching formats as a starting point to reflect upon one's own teaching and its further advancement.

Keywords: digitally-enhanced teaching; distance education; higher education; synthetic biology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Curriculum
  • Education, Distance*
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Learning
  • Social Media
  • Synthetic Biology / education*
  • Teaching
  • Virtual Reality