Wallace, Maria

English

College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University: DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU

College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day Undergraduate Research 4-19-2021 Evaluation of Online Lab Platforms Against Best Practices for an Undergraduate Neurobiology Course Maria Wallace College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University, mwallace001@csbsju.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/ur_cscday Recommended Citation Wallace, Maria, "Evaluation of Online Lab Platforms Against Best Practices for an Undergraduate Neurobiology Course" (2021). Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day. 140. https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/ur_cscday/140 This Poster is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Celebrating Scholarship and Creativity Day by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@csbsju.edu. Evaluation of online lab platforms against best practices for an undergraduate neurobiology courseMaria Wallace and Jennifer SchaeferCollege of St. Benedict/St. John’s University, Biology Department, Collegeville, MN 56321IntroductionThe COVID-10 pandemic has changed the way that traditionalcollege courses, and especially laboratory courses, aretaught.Best practices for online educationFollowing best practices helps instructors to develop the most effective online instruction, increasing student learning and engagement. Many courses and laboratories have been forced to move online in the past 8 months as COVID mandated remote instruction. Many online neuroscience laboratory resources had already been developed due to the cost- and time-intensive nature of neurobiology laboratory techniques. Instructors can take advantage of these pre-existing online resources during the COVID pandemic.Neurobiology course and projectThe neurobiology course taught at CSB/SJU (Biology 320) offers a laboratory component for the first time in spring 2021. Online laboratory resources may continue to be utilized in parallel with hands-on investigations post-pandemic. This project researched best practices for online undergraduate science laboratory instruction and tested neurobiology online lab platforms against best practices and course goals.MethodsResults§ Best practices for online education:§ Labs removed for accessibility issues:§ NeuroSim5§ Swimmy§ UCLA- NSF modules§ Electrophysiology of the neuron§ Description of top labs: NeuroWiki & MetaNeuron§ Accessible from personal computers & easy-to-use: increases student understanding and facilitates student collaboration§ Include many simulations for a topic/lesson and/or provides in-depth material for each topic§ Allow data collection and data analysis§ Include student exercises & instructor’s manuals, with videos & demonstrations of the simulations or concepts§Conclusion/ DiscussionThe increasing demand for online instruction and remote science laboratories is due to the current pandemic but is likely to change the direction of education for the future. The top-rated online laboratories for neurobiology offer virtual simulations, data analysis, understanding of laboratory techniques, and coverage of numerous course topics. The CSB/SJU Neurobiology course is prepared for either remote or traditional learning via online laboratories that follow best practices for online instruction to promote student engagement and learning.

Evaluation of Online Lab Platforms Against Best Practices for an Undergraduate Neurobiology Course

https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1140&context=ur_cscday

Evaluation of Online Lab Platforms Against Best Practices for an Undergraduate Neurobiology Course

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College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University: DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU