2024 ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators

The evolving landscape of online education calls for strategies to avoid instructor burnout. This presentation explores how AI-driven course development, using Open Educational Resources (OER) and collaborative efforts between Learning Experience Designers (LXD) and faculty, creates efficient, content-rich courses. Emphasizing andragogy, we developed comprehensive materials (PowerPoints, quizzes, assignments, rubrics) and ensured all AI outputs were rigorously evaluated before implementation. Attendees will learn how these innovations enhance online learning while reducing instructor workload, promoting well-being, and ensuring student success.

In post-pandemic classrooms, instructors strive to respond to demands for increased flexibility for student needs while keeping their students on track. Meeting these expectations in large introductory courses comes with the potential for hundreds of email responses and mentally taxing decisions about making allowances for students while maintaining fairness to others. This balancing act can lead to educator burnout and negatively impact student retention and curriculum development as one collapses under the burden. We have designed a system that encourages inclusivity, is well received by students, and reduces the workload on instructors by using student feedback and evidence-based practices.

While undergraduate research experiences are valuable, their acquisition has historically been inequitable, partly due to a lack of Scientific Research Cultural Capital (SRCC). To address this, we developed in-class "Research Workshops" at a four-year institution and local community college. These workshops educate students on UREs, including opportunities and benefits, and teach practical skills like using online resources and contacting professors. Students who participated showed increased interest in UREs. The workshops also enhanced students' skills in securing research experiences, communicating with faculty, and resilience. This approach may help a more diverse group of students participate in undergraduate research.

Incorporating undergraduate learning assistants (ULAs) in the STEM classroom consistently enhances student engagement, which we highlight here, as well as how ULAs in a large enrollment General Microbiology course cultivate student community while also significantly advancing the professional development of our ULAs. In this session, we will explore the practicality of involving ULAs to effectively meet students’ needs and provide guidance without overwhelming the instructor. Simultaneously, we will delve into mentoring ULAs in the art of teaching, fostering a dynamic and mutually beneficial relationship that cultivates student engagement and a sense of belonging for all in academic settings.

Many instructors are unaware of the educational research highlighting successful evidence-based teaching practices. Studies suggest that frameworks that guide the development of assessments and activities aligned with learning outcomes provide valuable feedback that can enhance learning. Based on the latest ASM Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology, this session will introduce participants to the process of class design using learning outcomes, thus shifting the focus from what the instructor will do to what the students will learn. During the workshop, participants will explore the structure and benefits of evidence-based teaching, then practice on the first step—writing learning outcomes.

Recently, there has been a concerted effort to build syllabi to foster a more inclusive, welcoming introduction to a course. Research shows that when syllabi include supporting or welcoming statements, use warm/friendly language, or are learning-centered, students have a more positive impression of a course and instructor. One type of inclusive syllabus is the liquid syllabus, a dynamic, online version of a traditional course syllabus that is designed to be more accessible, interactive, and engaging for students. This presentation will discuss student views on the liquid syllabus and its effect on student sense of belonging, engagement, and instructor approachability.

This session explores the use of pre-recorded lecture videos in an online asynchronous immunology & molecular biology class and their impact on student academic performance. During the session we will review the process of using pre-recorded lectures in an online course to promote equity and inclusivity in student learning while having a positive impact on academic performance. We will discuss our research study which demonstrated students who watched pre-recorded lecture videos performed better on exams and in the course.

The rise of large language models (LLMs) has introduced new tools that can enhance student productivity. While LLMs can explain complex topics in easy-to-understand language and act as a learning resource, there are concerns about their potential to reduce cognitive workload and enable academic dishonesty. In this presentation, I will share survey data on student usage of LLMs and the effectiveness of AI detectors. Additionally, we will share our experiences with LLM in the classroom. The end product of the discussion will be a potential AI policy we can all use.
Link to poll everywhere

This session will focus on strategies for facilitating the training and professional development of faculty teaching course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs). In this session, I will highlight how the First-Year Innovation and Research Experience (FIRE) program at the University of Maryland trains and mentors our 15 professional track faculty. Attendees will learn how FIRE structures our training and professional development of new and existing faculty. Attendees will discuss best practices for training faculty running CURE-based courses. Attendees will also explore how to build communities of practice amongst faculty mentoring undergraduate researchers in CURE-based courses.

Reforming our biology courses to create inclusive and anti-racist classroom environments in the face of significant requirements for students to master biology concepts can seem daunting. What if you could coherently integrate evidence-based inclusivity strategies and anti-racist content to support the teaching of foundational genetics and evolution concepts, in a way that makes sense to a biologist and without further diversity training? The session uses the example and data on student learning from such a reformed introductory biology course for science majors to invite you to explore ways to introduce similar reform in your course, department or instructor professional development.

Special Science talk!

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria pose a grave threat to human health. Bacteriophage (phage) therapy uses viruses targeting bacteria to treat infections. We have developed a phage therapy program at the University of Pittsburgh which offers custom phage cocktails to treat individual patients with bacterial infections under compassionate use. We isolate and characterize phages that target antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens, perform phage susceptibility testing to match infecting strains with phages that can kill them, manufacture and test custom phage cocktails for individual patient use, and follow patients receiving this therapy to study what happens to them.

Program Officers will give a brief introduction to recent funding opportunities, priorities within the Biological Sciences Directorate, and tips on preparing a successful proposal. Come and bring your questions.

This session will be offered twice during ASMCUE.

Roundtable discussion. Bring your thoughts and questions.

In this roundtable discussion, participants will reflect on the changes they have made to their courses in response to the rise of generative AI tools. Topics will include limiting AI use, monitoring its application, and addressing student misuse. Following this, participants will share their experiences—both successes and challenges—in integrating AI into their courses. Together we will reflect on high value use of this new technology for both students and faculty.

Below is the ChatGPT version of the description:
This roundtable invites faculty to discuss the use of generative AI tools in undergraduate biology courses. Topics will include balancing AI restrictions with opportunities for student engagement, strategies for monitoring AI use, and addressing academic integrity. Faculty will share their experiences, highlighting both successes and challenges, in adapting assessments and teaching methods. The goal is to foster an exchange of ideas for responsibly and effectively incorporating AI to enhance student learning in biology classrooms.

Roundtable discussion.

Panelists:
Andrea Rediske, Interim Dean, Science, Valencia College
Mary Mawn, Dean of the School of Science, Mathematics and Technology, SUNY Empire State

Come hear more about pathways to leadership in administration, including skill development. Bring lots of questions!

Roundtable discussion.

This is an interactive roundtable discussion about future initiatives for the ASM Curriculum Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology. We anticipate building a curated library of aligned learning outcomes and embarking on revising the Microbiology Concept Inventory. Come if you are interested in volunteering!