Something old, something new: Teaching the BMB lab

Abstract

Lab courses are a significant component of biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) education. In teaching the labs, we combine established techniques with novel approaches. Lab formats have also moved from traditional cookbook style labs to guided inquiry to course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), where faculty bring their own research interests into the course setting with a larger number of students in a much more restricted time frame. This presentation is designed to explore some of these ideas and challenge the reader to introduce research opportunities to all students, not just the smaller group of students in their research labs. K E Y W O R D S computational biology, computers in research and teaching, enzymes and catalysis, genomics proteomics bioinformatics, integration of research into undergraduate teaching, laboratory exercises, molecular visualization, new course development

A Review of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences in Chemistry

“…Not represented in Figure are the remaining articles that met the inclusion criteria for the review but did not fit into the categories of describing a CURE or presenting research related to CUREs (7 articles or 10% of included articles). These articles included perspectives on developing and implementing CUREs, − reports drawing upon several vignettes from faculty members who have implemented CUREs, , a commentary suggesting the value of CURE leadership for training future faculty, and one article, authored by undergraduates, which presented the results of the research conducted within a CURE . In the following sections, we first synthesize the articles describing a CURE by providing an overview of the institution types, lengths of CUREs, types of courses (lower- or upper-division and chemistry subdiscipline), research topics, the inclusion of CURE components (discovery, relevance, collaboration, iteration, and science practices), methods for evaluating CUREs (quantitative and qualitative), and insights for adapting CUREs to other settings or adapting CUREs due to COVID; we then synthesize the trends in research related to chemistry CUREs.…”

Developing a Gain-in-research-ability Test to Navigate and Assess Course-based Undergraduate Research Experiences

“…Since the national call for education reform to integrate authentic research experiences into undergraduate curricula, higher education has witnessed increased endeavors to involve undergraduate students in doing science through course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) (Auchincloss et al, 2014;Cooper et al, 2020;Craig, 2020;Krim et al, 2019;Lopatto et al, 2020). CUREs help students increase self-confidence, improve attitudes toward science, build ability to analyze and interpret data, develop more sophisticated conceptions of what it means to think like a scientist, and enhance content knowledge (Shortlidge & Brownell, 2016).…”