We would like to thank all of those who piloted our DNA-Fc tool and completed the evaluation form, your feedback was much appreciated! Modifications will be made in accordance and the tool assembled ready for Septembers cohort. Below is a copy of the final report.
Final Report Template
(Projects Funded by ILT
Innovation Fund 2014-15) Key
contact details
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Author(s):
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Dr Lee Machado and Dr Gemma
Marsden
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Job title(s):
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Senior Lecturer(s)
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School and department:
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Health (SELS)
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Telephone:
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EXT 3476 and EXT 2639
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Email(s):
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Lee.machado@northampton.ac.uk
gemma.marsden@northampton.ac.uk
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Date submitted:
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30th June 2015
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1. Project title
Development of an online
recombinant DNA toolkit (DNA-fc): A flipped approach for enhancing Molecular
Biology education.
2. Abstract (max. 100 words)
This project developed, and
evaluated an approach that uses multimedia content to enhance the student experience
for practical skills e.g. in laboratory-based disciplines. In the first
instance, the approach was piloted within the area of recombinant DNA
technology and Molecular Biology, but will be well documented and readily
transferable. The pilot, called DNA-fc was implemented in NILE, where students
can engage in traditionally practical approaches, at their own pace, and
consolidate key concepts before applying them in the laboratory. This had
positive impact on student experience and engagement, by enhancing both campus
based and online learning environments.
3. Project aims and
objectives (max. 200 words)
Please use the table below to provide information on the
intended aims and objectives of your project (the ones stated in your project
proposal) and the aims and objectives that have been achieved.
Intended aims and
objectives
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Achieved in full?
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Comments
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To document a replicable
process for creating interactive multimedia content (photos, videos and
animation content) that allows students to engage with the subject matter.
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Yes
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We have produced a DNA-Fc
development guide detailing how the online content was generated. We have
also produced a blog detailing our experience of this process.
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To develop a pilot (DNA-fc)
in molecular cloning practical sessions and produce and fully characterize
the properties of recombinant DNA molecules.
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Yes
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The DNA-fc tool has been
built primarily around two important technologies; SCORM and Scratch. SCORM
is an e-learning standard that is used to integrate learning content into
virtual learning environments (VLEs) like NILE. Scratch, meanwhile, was used
within the project to produce interactive activities which were then
converted to Flash an embedded within the SCORM course.
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To employ DNA-fc to enrich
student (n= 50-100 students across level 4 and 5) practical work in
recombinant DNA technology.
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Yes
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This has been rolled out to
current level 4, 5 and 6 students and will be available for future use by
students.
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To rigorously evaluate (i.e.
semi-structured questionnaires/focus groups) the utility of DNA-fc in
facilitating linked practical sessions that characterize recombinant DNA
properties.
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Yes
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Student evaluation has been
achieved using a Q-methodology approach.
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To draw conclusions about the
transferability of the process, using a small cross disciplinary staff focus
group.
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Yes
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A staff focus group was used
to determine the transferability of the process to aid teaching and learning
in their specific subject areas.
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4. Project outputs and
deliverables (max. 200 words)
Please use the table below to provide information on your
project’s outputs and deliverables (the ones stated in your project proposal)
and the outputs and deliverables that have actually been achieved.
Intended outputs and
deliverables
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Achieved in full?
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Comments
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A documented approach to
creating exercise resources, including a manual that explains how similar
resources can be developed for other subject areas
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Yes
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We have produced a DNA-Fc
development guide detailing how the online content was generated.
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DNA-fc will be embedded into
level 4-5 modules on the human Bioscience course as an online educational
tool.
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Yes
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This has been embedded into
SLS1008 and SLS2014 modules
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Publication of work/research
in peer review academic journals (i.e. the British Journal of Educational
Technology (BJET) and Journal of biological education)
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In progress
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This work will be written for
publication and submitted to the Journal of biological education
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Increased multidisciplinary
collaborations across the University and externally.
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Yes
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This project has fostered
increased collaboration between Health, Photography and computer sciences in
terms of future grant bids and collaboration on research projects.
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A presentation at the UN
Learning & Teaching Conference in May 2015.
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Yes
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Positively received comments
from team presentation given by junior researchers
https://twitter.com/jules_u/status/601345276985638912
https://twitter.com/DrRachLTB/status/601347571467079680
https://twitter.com/DrRachLTB/status/601345368022986752
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5. Project evaluation (max. 500 words)
Please use this space to provide information on the
methods that you used for carrying out an evaluation of the project, and the
key findings and results from the evaluation.
Student engagement with DNA-fc
was monitored using statistics tracking and assessing task completion but also
by listening to the student voice. The student experience of DNA-fc was
gathered using a Q methodology questionnaire to level 4, 5 & 6 students.
Preliminary data indicates that students felt this tool was appropriate for
some modules but not all. The interactive element of DNA-fc was valued more
than still images. Students felt that this tool was particularly relevant for
practical based subjects although there was some ambivalence in recommending
the tool to others suggesting the tool needs further development and testing
evolving to ongoing student needs.
The transferability of this
approach to other subjects was evaluated with a focus group of Staff from
different specialities. Themes emerged included the particular value of this
kind of approach for students new to higher education that may be lacking in
confidence and practical experience in specialist areas. The idea of making the
tool even more interactive/game like was discussed to provide a hook to further
engage students with the tool. There was staff concern over the time required
to develop this particular approach by individual academic members of staff for
their own subject areas. It was suggested that there would be a requirement for
learning technologist to support this approach to teaching. It was felt by
staff that this approach of integrated practical, online, theoretical and
conceptual teaching is novel both to the University of Northampton and the
wider educational community.
6. Project impact (max. 200 words)
Please use the table below
to provide information on the intended impact and benefit of your project
(the ones stated in your project proposal) and the impact and benefit that
have been achieved.
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Intended impact and
benefit
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Achieved in full?
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Comments
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This project will implement
and investigate the success of blending practical science with online
educational resources to enhance the student experience.
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Yes
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We have implemented this
blended approach to learning and preliminary data indicated the potential of
the tool to enhance student experience.
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It will provide a
differentiated e-learning approach that is multisensory and provides
assessment for learning and consolidates knowledge of molecular biology.
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Partial
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We need to further expand the
tool to provide a fully differentiated learning approach for students.
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Both students and staff will
benefit as students can work at their own pace and staff can focus on
specific areas of learner difficulty during practical sessions.
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Yes
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It will be important to
evaluate this with future cohorts to determine whether there is longitudinal
benefit.
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Lessons learnt from this work
will inform the development of innovative approaches that flip learning of
practical biology, enhancing access for all learners and transferability to
other subjects will be investigated.
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Yes
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The developmental process for
DNA-Fc is transferable to other subject areas and potentially wo
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7. Dissemination activities (max. 100 words)
Please use the table below to provide information on the
dissemination activities that have been conducted and their impact.
Dissemination activities
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Impact
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Ongoing blog during the
course of the project
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A transparent approach for
developing online flipped content
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Internal teaching and
learning conference
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Dissemination of an
interactive flipped learning approach that other educators may wish to adopt
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Plan for publication in
Journal of Biological Education
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Dissemination to the wider
biological science education community
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8. Budget update
Please use this space to
provide an update on your budget, in a suitable format, indicating aspects such
as:
Project
underspend
Project
overspend
Any other relevant aspects
in relation to the budget
All allocated direct and
non-direct costs have been spent within the period of the 8 month project.
9. Final reflections
Please add any other
comments and reflections on your project, such as lessons learned.
This was a
challenging 8 month project developing a flipped learning approach to molecular
biology. The project was multidisciplinary combining Biology, Photography and
Computer Science expertise. This project involved the development of a virtual
laboratory with subsequent dissemination and evaluation of the approach to
staff and students. Our preliminary evaluations suggest that students engage
with the content and that it aids/supplements learning in this area although we
will need to more rigorously evaluate the tool over the coming years. Our
preliminary focus group analysis indicates that developing a tool of this
nature may be feasible in other subject areas but there are notable challenges
to achieving this including the time and resources necessary to develop
interactive tools of this nature. By mapping our development process and making
it freely available to other educators we hope that this approach will be
adopted by the wider educational community.