An active, collaborative approach to learning skills in flow cytometry

Abstract

Advances in science education research have the potential to improve the way students learn to perform scientific interpretations and understand science concepts. We developed active, collaborative activities to teach skills in manipulating flow cytometry data using FlowJo software. Undergraduate students were given compensated clinical flow cytometry listmode output (FCS) files and asked to design a gating strategy to diagnose patients with different hematological malignancies on the basis of their immunophenotype. A separate cohort of research trainees was given uncompensated data files on which they performed their own compensation, calculated the antibody staining index, designed a sequential gating strategy, and quantified rare immune cell subsets. Student engagement, confidence, and perceptions of flow cytometry were assessed using a survey. Competency against the learning outcomes was assessed by asking students to undertake tasks that required understanding of flow cytometry dot plot data and gating sequences. The active, collaborative approach allowed students to achieve learning outcomes not previously possible with traditional teaching formats, for example, having students design their own gating strategy, without forgoing essential outcomes such as the interpretation of dot plots. In undergraduate students, favorable perceptions of flow cytometry as a field and as a potential career choice were correlated with student confidence but not the ability to perform flow cytometry data analysis. We demonstrate that this new pedagogical approach to teaching flow cytometry is beneficial for student understanding and interpretation of complex concepts. It should be considered as a useful new method for incorporating complex data analysis tasks such as flow cytometry into curricula.

Heterogeneity of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg TCR β CDR3 Repertoire Based on the Differences of Symbiotic Microorganisms in the Gut of Mice

“…In this study, after sorting the Treg cells in the mouse intestine and spleen, the purity of the Treg cells both in spleen and intestine reached about 80% (Additional file 2), suggesting that the purity of CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + Treg cells can meet the requirements ( Jenkins et al, 2015 ; Fuller et al, 2016 ).…”

A full semester flow cytometry course improves graduate and undergraduate student confidence

“…The second course consisted of a three‐hour tutorial for undergraduate pathology students which focused on establishing a more basic understanding of flow cytometry through active learning. By utilizing real flow cytometry data in a computer learning center, the researchers were able to see student engagement and improved skills in both their 3‐day and 3‐hour courses . Ott et al report about a course with an in‐depth study of immunological tools, including half of a semester focused on flow cytometry.…”

“…There are important lessons from evidence‐based research in flow cytometry, especially in the development of applicable instruction and student participation yielding better learning. Fuller et al reported the success of two short flow cytometry courses targeted to different audiences . The first reported on students which had direct applications for flow cytometry in their research, so the 3‐day course focused mainly on technical skills and data interpretation.…”

“…Fuller et al reported the success of two short flow cytometry courses targeted to different audiences. 16 The first reported on students which had direct applications for flow cytometry in their research, so the 3-day course focused mainly on technical skills and data interpretation. The second course consisted of a three-hour tutorial for undergraduate pathology students which focused on establishing a more basic understanding of flow cytometry through active learning.…”

“…By utilizing real flow cytometry data in a computer learning center, the researchers were able to see student engagement and improved skills in both their 3-day and 3-hour courses. 16 Ott et al report about a course with an in-depth study of immunological tools, including half of a semester focused on flow cytometry. By delving deeper into flow cytometry, the students were able to develop expertise and were exposed to numerous applications.…”