Flying in the Face of Adversity: a Drosophila -Based Virtual CURE (Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience) Provides a Semester-Long Authentic Research Opportunity to the Flipped Classroom

Abstract

A call for the integration of research experiences into all biology curricula has been a major goal for educational reform efforts nationally. Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have been the predominant method of accomplishing this, but their associated costs and complex design can limit their wide adoption.

Tiny Earth CURE improves student persistence in science

“…One of the most effective ways to improve STEM outcomes and diversify the STEM student body is to focus on improving the situational factors connected to scientific self-efficacy, identity, and values. Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) are interventions that address many of these situational factors because they engage students with active learning and relevant content to increase efficacy, provide students a sense of belonging in STEM, and introduce students to the Several CURE programs, such as the Science Education Alliance -Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science (SEA-PHAGES) program, the Genomics Education Partnership (GEP), and UCLA's Undergraduate Research Consortium in Functional Genomics, set a standard for quality and impact, demonstrating that research courses can nurture creativity, reinforce diverse talents, diminish the stigma of failure, foster community, and teach principles of equity and inclusion in science (Evans et al, 2021;Hanauer et al, 2017;Jordan et al, 2014;Lopatto et al, 2008;Olson et al, 2019;Shaffer et al, 2014;Waddell et al, 2021). They also provide students an opportunity to take project ownership and develop identities as scientists in a community of peers (Hanauer et al, 2017).…”

The project-based learning model and its contribution to life skills in biology learning: A systematic literature network analysis

“…Students can apply their scientific fields and adjust their learning by integrating several learning methods into the PjBL model (Urlica et al, 2019). In addition, it is important to prepare cooperative educators and learning companions for students because their behaviour and patterns of education shape the learning character and character of students so that they will carry over to applications in society (Waddell et al, 2021). Furthermore, respect and appreciation will be greater if learning based on direct practice in the field takes place with the right assistance (Pavlova et al, 2021) so that students' life skills will develop according to the norms of society without the misuse of their biological knowledge.…”

Who Grows There? A Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience to explore the human microbiome through 16S DNA metabarcoding

“…These take place within credit bearing modules, typically with one instructor supervising multiple students, so are more scalable and inclusive than requiring students to find individual research internships (7)(8)(9). Instructors in a variety of bioscience contexts have designed CUREs to embed research-led experimental work (10)(11)(12)(13). These CUREs vary in their scientific content, but also in the degree of student independence afforded.…”