Microbiology at Home (M@H): an Online, Self-Paced Solution To Enhance Practical Skills in Foundation Microbiology

Title
Microbiology at Home (M@H): an Online, Self-Paced Solution To Enhance Practical Skills in Foundation Microbiology
Publication Date
2023-08
Author(s)
Winter, Gal
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3789-395X
Email: gwinterz@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:gwinterz
Ketheesan, Natkunam
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4870-706X
Email: nkethees@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:nkethees
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
American Society for Microbiology
Place of publication
United State of America
DOI
10.1128/jmbe.00024-23
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/60597
Abstract

The online education market share is rapidly increasing, raising the demand to teach sciences outside the laboratory environment. Here, we present Microbiology at Home (M@H), a new approach that integrates hands-on microbiology experimentation with online interactive simulations using authentic scenarios in microbiology in the home environment. The M@H program includes 8 practical activities aligned to the ASM curriculum for practical skills. M@H kits are mailed to students, and each practical activity is prepacked individually with the required consumables, including microbial culture media to prepare at home using a microwave. These practicals are self-paced, and each activity is facilitated using a two-dimensional simulation package with prerecorded videos, protocols, and interactive activities. The students receive both synchronous and asynchronous support and guidance through online learning management systems fora and virtual gatherings. The M@H program was applied to an Introductory Microbiology cohort at the University of New England in 2020 and 2021. Based on student feedback, the experience not only provided real hands-on practice in microbiology but also acted to cement the engagement with the content by contextualizing it to the surrounding home environment. We anticipate that these activities will provide a way to successfully engage students with hands-on microbiology without the need for actual laboratory attendance, thus increasing accessibility to microbial protocols and applications.

Link
Citation
Journal of Microbiology and Biology Education, 24(2), p. 1-5
ISSN
1935-7885
1935-7877
Start page
1
End page
5
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

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