Teaching Biochemistry based Research Driven Course through Active Learning to Accelerate Student's Adaptation to College Study and Promote Freshman Research

Abstract

Freshman Year Research Intensive Sequence (FYRIS) program was implemented at The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) in 2015. The program promotes student enrollment in research driven course (RDCs) for two semesters to enhance student development and increase retention in STEM through early interventions by engaging them in research activities during the freshman and sophomore years. As the undergraduate population at UTEP is 85% Hispanic, programs such as FYRIS can play an important role in increasing the representation of minorities in STEM. UTEP has a near 100% acceptance for the undergraduate courses implies a class population represents students of diverse academic proficiencies. In our special freshman chemistry laboratory sections (CHEM 1105 and CHEM1106/4176), students conduct research on expression and purification of proteins. In the first semester, students gain understanding of basic chemistry and biochemistry concepts prior optimizing protein expression. In the second semester, they continue expressing proteins and also learn protein purification using Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography. To enhance student success in advanced research driven courses, it's important that all students have an accelerated understanding in the basic chemistry, biochemistry and molecular biology. Active learning methodologies such as personal response systems, case studies, problem based learning, flipped classroom, model building, game based quizzes, think pair share, peer led team learning were used to promote accelerated learning. Research‐Teaching Integration through peer led undergraduate students were implemented to boost student understanding and confidence. Overall, our evaluation showed that students' enjoyed the class sessions more and had a better clarity of complex research based concepts in our newly designed research driven coursesSupport or Funding InformationRDCs; S.R.; J.F. & R.E. National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under linked Award Numbers RL5GM118969, TL4GM118971, and UL1GM118970.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.