2024 ASM Conference for Undergraduate Educators: Full Schedule

2:40pm EST

A discussion activity for learning and assessment of the Core Concepts of Biology

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST

In this Microbrew I will present a discussion activity for student learning and assessment of the Core Concepts of Biology (Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology, 2009). The activity facilitates both learning and assessment through a dynamic discussion based on articles of individual student choice that engages students with the core principles of biology: evolution, structure and function, information flow, energy and matter transformations, and systems, with addition of ethical considerations and provides opportunities for further discussion and extensions based on student understanding. The discussion activity can be adapted for instructor-led summative assessments and formative classroom interactions. The activity has consistently received positive feedback from students and has been an effective way to connect with students around their interests in biology and stimulate motivation for learning.

Speakers

Jean Huang

Associate Professor of Biology, Olin College

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST
Butler Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15273

Microbrew Talk

2:40pm EST

Creating a Supportive Student Network: How Peer Mentoring Enhances Microbiology Education

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST

Westmoreland East

Peer mentoring has shown to increase transfer student success and foster an immediate sense of belonging in their academic setting. We have created a Peer Mentoring program to build connections between our majors and new transfer students joining our program. The goal of this program is for students to (1) interact and socialize, (2) provide a sense of belonging for new students within the department and university, (3) offer accessibility and knowledge to navigate RU-campus resources, and (4) increase retention & graduation rates. The peer mentor outcomes is to (1) build and apply mentoring skills, (2) improve leadership skills, and (3) increase a sense of belonging in their major. For our presentations, we would like to share our experience in recruiting students to the program, the process of matching mentors with mentees, meeting expectations and goals, guidance throughout the semester and overall design of the peer mentoring course that students take.

Speakers

Ines Rauschenbach

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST
Westmoreland East Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15274

Microbrew Talk

2:40pm EST

Fostering discussion on health disparities and global awareness in an undergraduate microbiology course through the use of primary scientific papers.

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST

Westmoreland Central

Microbiology lives at the intersection of science and society. Diarrheal diseases and access to clean water, sexually transmitted diseases and sexual health access/education; microbial evolution, outbreaks and vaccination attitudes, the possibilities seem endless. We have developed three course activities associated with primary scientific papers that are accessible to undergraduate students to promote scientific literacy and critical thinking skills, while cultivating discussions on health inequities, and improve students’ cultural and global awareness. Best practices for primary papers and for the creation of inclusive classrooms require some of the same techniques; providing scaffolding of background and terminology, highlighting multiple sources/perspectives and development an environment where individuals are comfortable accepting their own inexperience and listening to the other’s knowledge/experience. We will present the implementation of these through primary papers and associated assignments, student responses to these, and discuss the expansion to other undergraduate classes, including parasitology and genetics.

Speakers

Lauren Logsdon

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST
Westmoreland Central Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15276

Microbrew Talk

2:40pm EST

Strategies to Re-Engage Students with In-Person Instruction

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST

Somerset

Have you ever looked out at a sea of empty seats in your classroom and wondered where your students are? You are not alone! Student engagement and attendance are historically low, with instructors at many institutions reporting as few as one-quarter of their students attending class after our post-COVID return to in-person instruction (Basken, 2023; Holstead, 2022; McMurtrie, 2022). Instructors are understandably concerned about negative impacts on student outcomes and interactive learning activities. We will first describe the benefits that in-person attendance has for student learning, then share the pros and cons of teaching practices commonly used to boost attendance in STEM lecture courses. As a group, we will identify which practices are most impactful, and invite attendees to contribute practices and ideas to a collaborative document. Our goal is to provide a variety of options for instructors to serve their pedagogical goals and the specific needs of their classroom.

Speakers

Jonathan Bragg

Miriam Markum

Associate Professor of Teaching, University of California, Davis

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST
Somerset Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15309

Microbrew Talk

2:40pm EST

Using STEM-spiration Profiles to Highlight Diverse Scientists

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST

Allegheny I

To “recognize the historical and ongoing contributions of diverse scientists” is a part of the ASM Recommended Guidelines for Undergraduate Microbiology Education. The use of STEM-spiration Profiles in my courses has allowed my students to learn about a wide array of scientists in the field now, historic scientists, and even some alumni of our college making their way in STEM careers. Introduction of a profile may be linked to course content. While studying bacterial genetics students are introduced to Tsuneko Okazaki, and when learning about the microbiome a profile about Ariangela Kozik is shared with students. Each week students explore a new profile, so over the semester most students discover a person with whom they are able to relate and gain inspiration to persist in their STEM dreams and goals. Students consistently report at the end of the term how much the STEM-spiration Profiles impacted them.

Speakers

Julie Oliver

Professor, Cosumnes River College

Saturday November 16, 2024 2:40pm - 2:55pm EST
Allegheny I Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Microbrew Talk

3:00pm EST

AI Scientist Spotlights: Highlighting the Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Biology Professions

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

Allegheny I

Growth in the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in postsecondary learning environments has resulted in a concomitant increase in conversations about the role of AI in teaching and the relevance of AI to students’ academic/professional development. To approach these conversations within the biology curriculum at our institution, we developed a series of “AI Scientist Spotlight” exercises designed to highlight the work of counterstereotypical scholars employing artificial intelligence technologies in a diversity of contexts (e.g., healthcare). Importantly, these spotlights also provide students with an opportunity to reflect on the potential role of AI in their own future careers. In this interactive session, we will introduce attendees to the spotlights that we have created, engage in conversation around their utility in meeting the above-mentioned goals, and brainstorm strategies for how attendees might implement similar spotlight exercises at their own institutions.

Speakers

Jeffrey T. Olimpo

Associate Professor, The University of Texas at El Paso

I am a discipline-based education researcher whose work focuses on understanding how the contextual features of course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) influence student- and instructor-level outcomes. I am also deeply interested in designing professional development... Read More →

Christina D'Arcy

Instructional Developer, University of Texas at El Paso

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Allegheny I Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Microbrew Talk

3:00pm EST

Facing your fears: math skills in micro lab

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

Somerset

This Microbrew is a discussion about strategies to address student math skills, where they are, and to develop competency to perform data analysis in microbiology lab to address the quantitative reasoning curriculum outcome. This session is on the math skills used throughout a semester long microbiology lab and will incorporate exercises for determining cell size using a microscope equipped with a micrometer, how to setup serial dilutions and to determine the concentration of microbes in an original sample after a serial dilution is performed. To improve student learning a unique math skills sheet was developed for the students to refer to throughout the course to help master the needed skills. The participants will discuss these skills and their personal experiences in helping students overcome math hesitancy and inadequate prior math skill preparation.

Speakers

Illona Gillette-Ferguson

Associate Professor, SUNY Cobleskill

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Somerset Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15309

Microbrew Talk

3:00pm EST

The Tiny Earth CURE equitably develops scientific self-efficacy and identity, which mitigate persistence losses

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

Westmoreland Central

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) enhance student retention in STEM, particularly among students who belong to historically excluded communities. Yet the mechanisms by which CUREs contribute to student persistence in STEM remain poorly understood. Our study explored how enrollment in the Tiny Earth CURE – which focuses on students discovering antibiotics from soil bacteria – promotes scientific self-efficacy and identity, while mitigating losses in STEM persistence intentions that are typical in gateway courses. The session will share results from the study and an overview of the Tiny Earth curriculum.

Speakers

Sarah Miller

Executive Director of Tiny Earth, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Westmoreland Central Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15276

Microbrew Talk

3:00pm EST

Use of “Career Competencies” in teaching lab notebooks in an undergraduate Biotechnology Laboratory

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

Butler

A series of “Career Competencies” was developed on campus to help students relate what they are learning to transferable skills needed for employment. Instructors across the curriculum have developed assignments to address these career competencies. While many laboratory courses use technical skills and documentation, students may not sense how they would use them in a career. In the Biotechnology Laboratory, the assignment involves a weekly post addressing these career competencies in relation to documentation or other skills. Some weeks there was a required prompt related to a particularly challenging task such as calculating Specific Activities or keeping their lab notebook. Other weeks were free weeks to sense what they are appreciating. Assessment involved “ungrading” based on how many posts the student wrote over the semester and feedback provided. A quorum of students has better appreciation for documentation and other transferable skills relating to career competencies.

Speakers

Nancy Magill

Senior lecturer, Indiana University Bloomington

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Butler Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15273

Microbrew Talk

3:00pm EST

Whatever the case may be: Developing unfolding case studies to prepare students for NexGen-NCLEX

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST

Westmoreland East

In 2023, NexGen-NCLEX was released, a nursing licensure exam designed to evaluate clinical judgment skills. To prepare students for this assessment, new educational resources are required. We have designed novel case studies that are aligned with the NextGen-NCLEX and ASM-MINAH Guidelines to familiarize students with the format of the exam. These self-paced, unfolding case studies have been developed using true patient scenarios. Students must recognize and analyze cues through symptoms, history, vitals, and labs. Using this information, students then generate logical hypotheses and solutions for best patient care. Across these 20+ cases, students are exposed to diverse patient populations, allowing them to navigate caring for patients with different backgrounds, cultures and gender identities. This holistic approach integrates core microbiology and laboratory concepts that students will apply in their careers. These case studies would benefit students and educators alike, by sharing this interactive and accessible content with the allied health field.

Speakers

Anna Gregory

PhD Candidate, University of Wisconsin - Madison

I am a Microbiology PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin - Madison where I study Clostridioides difficile pathogenicity and metabolism. I also teach "Microbiology for Nurses" as an adjunct at Edgewood College.

Suzy Karcher

Assistant Professor of Nursing, Edgewood College

I am a pediatric nurse practitioner and nursing professor, but I have a lot of interest and experience in microbiology and how it applies to nursing practice! I enjoy helping students see the connections between what we do in the lab and how it drives clinical decision making.

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:00pm - 3:15pm EST
Westmoreland East Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15274

Microbrew Talk

3:20pm EST

Beyond the Bench: Integrating Bioethical Topics in Microbiology and Immunology courses

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST

Allegheny I

Integrating bioethics into foundation sciences courses bridges the humanities and sciences and fosters dialogue on the societal implications of scientific advancements both past and present. As per the 2024 ASM Curriculum Guidelines, understanding science-society intersections and ethical dimensions is crucial. In this session, the audience members will brainstorm and share bioethics topics related to courses. The presenter will describe her strategy for integrating bioethics readings and student reflections, highlight successful topics, and include student feedback. The session concludes with an invitation to work collaboratively to identify impactful reading materials, design assignments, and develop effective ways to share these resources.
Link to Presentation slides.

Speakers

Aisling Dugan

Senior lecturer, Brown University

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST
Allegheny I Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Microbrew Talk

3:20pm EST

Big data analytical techniques (BDAT): Influenza viral dynamics and vaccine design course module

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST

Somerset

The rapid advancement of high throughput technologies has generated an enormous amount of heterogeneous data relevant to the life sciences and data science as a whole. This underscores the need to leverage this data to prepare undergraduate students for career opportunities in STEM that may be more data-focused by teaching big data analytical techniques (BDAT). Faculty at teaching-focused institutions such as community colleges, face numerous obstacles when incorporating BDAT in their life sciences curricula including heavy teaching loads, lack of time, resources, and support to develop new curricula. Additionally, bioinformatics software and modules are often written with specific user expertise in mind, making general usage by faculty difficult and time-consuming. Come learn about the NSF funded Consortium for Biological Data Science Education RCN and our planned infrastructure to support faculty in introducing BDAT and curricular supports. Faculty will be able to engage and provide feedback on an Influenza Viral Dynamics Module and view 6 more modules under consideration in this effort created by MC Melendrez-Vallard.

Speakers

Mel Melendrez-Vallard

Instructor of Biology, Microbiology, Anoka Ramsey Community College

I am an environmental and computational microbiologist by training and really enjoy curriculum design to introduce bioinformatics and data analytics into the undergraduate classroom (genomics subtopics and phylogenetics focus etc..)

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST
Somerset Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15309

Microbrew Talk

3:20pm EST

Incorporating Primary Literature into Your Class Using This Week in Microbiology (TWiM) Podcasts and an OER Pressbook, Podcast Annotation Resources: Microbiology (PAR:M)

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST

Westmoreland Central

The ability to understand science and think in a critical way is important to modern citizens. However, students struggle learning to read and write about science. Students leave science because they feel unconnected and uninspired by traditional teaching methods. Additionally, teachers struggle finding teaching resources that are effective, innovative, and reliable. This science literacy project provides two opportunities for curricular change. First, student/faculty teams collaboratively annotated episodes from TWiM, mapped concepts to the ASM curricular guidelines, and developed figure reading exercises based on the primary literature in the podcast. Second, these materials were organized into the Pressbook with accessible, inclusive, and complete activities for teacher use. We invite faculty to utilize the Pressbook activities, join our group to learn to build their own annotation teams and generate OER for primary literature-based science podcasts, and investigate the impact of these trainings and materials on student science literacy, identity, and motivation.

Speakers

Nancy Boury

Associate Professor, Iowa State University

Microbiologist interested in active learning, assessment, buildling and using case studies to teach general microbiology, general biology, general genetics.

Rebecca Seipelt-Thiemann

Middle Tennessee State University

Gwendowlyn Knapp

Assistant Professor of Biology, Illinois College

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST
Westmoreland Central Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15276

Microbrew Talk

3:20pm EST

MARVEL: Microbiology Achievement through Research and Valuable Experiential Learning

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST

Butler

Student retention challenges, particularly for underrepresented groups, often include barriers impacting student self-efficacy, persistence, motivation, and STEM identity. To address these issues and promote student persistence, the MARVEL (Microbiology Achievement through Research and Valuable and Experiential Learning) program was developed as an intervention to address these barriers by fostering community, building confidence, and providing early experiential learning opportunities. Targeted interventions include embedding student participation in research symposia, experiential learning, and professional development-oriented workshops into the curriculum of an introductory microbiology course, while guiding the application and reflection of learning outcomes to students’ career preparation plans. Through participation in MARVEL, student confidence and sense of belonging increased as students saw themselves as part of a vibrant scientific community and able to network with other students, faculty, and staff. With continued participation throughout their academic program, students build a comprehensive portfolio of skills while building connections for future success.

Speakers

Brandi Sigmon

Associate Professor of Practice, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Dr. Sigmon is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. As part of her appointment, she also serves as the Academic Success Coordinator for the Microbiology Program. In this program, Dr. Sigmon focuses on enhancing... Read More →

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST
Butler Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15273

Microbrew Talk

3:20pm EST

WikiScience: Harnessing Wikipedia for Science Communication and Collaboration

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST

Westmoreland East

Science communication is a key skill that should be considered in STEM curriculum. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of STEM students and professionals being able to communicate effectively with the public was further highlighted. Wikipedia is a collaborative open access encyclopedia and source of information on many science topics for the wider community. In this session we’ll introduce an activity developed in collaboration with Wikimedia Australia. Students worked in groups to assess Wikipedia articles for their currency, accuracy and readability for a lay audience without a science background. An article they generated through AI on the same topic was compared with the Wikipedia article. This activity enhances collaborative learning, critical thinking and science communication in the class, and some key benefits noted by students will be discussed. In this Microbrew attendees will have the opportunity to discuss ways they can implement a Wikipedia based assessment into their own courses.

Speakers

Katelyn Mroczek

Lecturer, La Trobe University, Australia

Saturday November 16, 2024 3:20pm - 3:35pm EST
Westmoreland East Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15274

Microbrew Talk

11:10am EST

Debugging with purpose: Smoothing the bioinformatics learning experience with generative AI

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST

Allegheny I

Bioinformatics pipelines, code libraries, and other tools are ubiquitous in microbiology. Even armed with documentation and preexisting online resources, learning how to use these tools can be overwhelming to trainees who may be unfamiliar with computational vocabulary and concepts. Additionally, teaching these methods can be overwhelming to instructors who need to anticipate errors, bugs, and other obstacles they may encounter. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT have the potential to smooth the learning process by providing real-time student-specific feedback and creating examples from which to learn. I will present a learning activity where students will use ChatGPT to identify the cause of an error and generate synthetic examples of error-producing inputs in a bioinformatics sequencing pipeline. This will demonstrate that instead of simply fixing bugs, generative AI has the potential to help students develop broader pattern-recognition skills and deeper understanding of the tools they use.

Speakers

Philip Arevalo

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST
Allegheny I Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Microbrew Talk

11:10am EST

Let’s Get Personal: Writing Personally-Experienced Case Studies Enhances Undergraduate Critical Thinking.

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST

Somerset

An active learning assignment was developed for students in an introductory microbiology course for health professionals and also used in advanced immunology and virology courses. Project objectives included providing students with an opportunity to develop skills in research, written communication, and team-building while better understanding how various diseases impact individuals of diverse cultures, backgrounds, ethnicities and gender identities. Additionally, students cultivate proficiency in analyzing medical information and critically reviewing peer work. Students develop a 2-4 page, well organized, creative and personalized presentation encompassing the chronological case history, any personal or clinical intervention of the disease pathology and its outcome. The account must include at least four integrated questions requiring a reader to comprehensively address the following topics: disease etiology, diagnosis, pathogen characteristics, pathogenesis, treatment and/or prevention. Unfamiliar terminology must be defined and instructional visuals included. Classmates solved and reviewed peers’ case studies, and expressed enthusiasm for this real-life experience.

Speakers

Linda Young

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST
Somerset Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15309

Microbrew Talk

11:10am EST

MLS and PA students working together to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST

Butler

In the face of the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, it is essential to establish strong antimicrobial stewardship in clinical settings. The unnecessary use of antibiotics in clinical settings often results from communication breakdown between medical teams and allied health professionals. This disruption in patient-centered care makes it challenging to reduce the development of heightened antimicrobial resistance in clinical cases of patients with bacterial infections. In response to this challenge, the Departments of Clinical Laboratory Science and Physician Assistant at Howard University have collaborated to create an interdisciplinary learning module. This module is designed to effectively identify and treat infectious diseases according to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) guidelines, using proactive communication, and draws on the knowledge and skill sets of the medical laboratory science and physician assistant disciplines. By utilizing interdisciplinary learning activities, future healthcare professionals will be better equipped to address the challenge of antimicrobial resistance.

Speakers

Amber Kimble

Howard University

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST
Butler Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15273

Microbrew Talk

11:10am EST

Re-thinking pre-requisite courses - Investigating the role of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry in the success of undergraduate science majors, medical, and dental students.

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST

Westmoreland Central

Students interested in careers in the biomedical sciences often declare majors that require 9 semesters of chemistry including general chemistry I and II, organic chemistry I and II, and biochemistry. Chemistry, and specifically organic chemistry can be a barrier to a student pursuing a career in the biomedical sciences as it often lowers overall student GPA. We are interested in whether completing organic chemistry II is necessary for better student performance in upper-level biochemistry and molecular biology courses and success in future career endeavors. We are analyzing how two different student groups – students who have completed organic chemistry I and II and students who have only completed organic chemistry I compare in their 1) successful completion of upper-level biochemistry and molecular biology courses, 2) admission into professional or graduate programs, 3) success in professional or graduate level biochemistry courses and 4) success in earning professional or graduate degrees.

Speakers

Kelly Collins

Teaching Associate Professor, West Virginia University

I have been at WVU for two years where I am the Vice Chair of Undergraduate Education for the Microbiology, Immunology, and Cell Biology Department. In this role, I administer our department's undergraduate Immunology and Microbiology (IMMB) Bachelor of Science degree. I am always... Read More →

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST
Westmoreland Central Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15276

Microbrew Talk

11:10am EST

“Microbes Inside Me”: Utilizing Student-issued iPads to Create Video Projects

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST

Westmoreland East

As a Microbiology course project, groups of 2-3 students created an episode of “Microbes Inside Me” a take on “Monsters Inside Me” as developed and presented on Animal Planet. In this video and script submission, students applied concepts learned throughout the semester, including taxonomy, biochemical means of organism identification, antimicrobial resistance, and patient risks and outcomes. A rubric guided project creation and concept incorporation. The University of Virginia College at Wise (UVA-Wise) ensures equitable access to technology through the iPad program on campus. One class session introduced the project and trained students to use the iPad app Clips to create their project. During their final exam period, students participated in a viewing session, where they watched the videos and guessed the infectious agent before the big reveal. Students then scored each other’s work and partnerships using Peerceptiv on our LMS system.

Speakers

Allison Scherer

Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Virginia College at Wise

I am in my second year of teaching at the University of Virginia's College at Wise located in the southwest VA Appalachian Mountains. This is my first year attending ASMCUE and I'm excited to learn more about DBER, instructional methods, and research in the classroom!

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:10am - 11:25am EST
Westmoreland East Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15274

Microbrew Talk

11:30am EST

Characterization of Microbes from the Streams and Lake at Cedar Beech Park

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST

Westmoreland East

The Muhlenberg College microbiology course is offered as an upper-level undergraduate biology course for multiple science majors. This lab CURE involves water sampling from the streams and lake at Cedar Beech Park (walking distance). The aims of this project are to teach microbiological laboratory procedures using microbes from the local park. All activities (assays) will follow BSL-2 and include batch cultures, microscopy, Gram stains (cell structure and function), growth curves, growth (microbial systems) on differential and selective media, anaerobic growth (metabolic pathways), BLAST identification (information flow and genetics), antibiotic tests, biofilm growth as single-species and co-cultures (microbial systems and evolution). Students will execute and analyze experiments concomitant with lecture material. The CURE will last the entire semester. Also, this CURE is a good example of place-based education, emphasizing learning though community service. Therefore, this is a great opportunity to address the human population diversity in the city of Allentown, PA.

Speakers

Giancarlo Cuadra

Associate Professor of Biology, Muhlenberg College

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST
Westmoreland East Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15274

Microbrew Talk

11:30am EST

ChatGPT, Friend or Foe? Exploring Ways to Use Artificial Intelligence as a Virtual Laboratory Assistant

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST

Allegheny I

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT can be used in positive ways to support science learning. When used appropriately, AI tools can support students as they engage with course materials and help them develop self-directed learning skills. Such tools can provide just-in-time support through immediate feedback and assistance. It can also potentially replicate the real-time dialogue that takes place at the lab bench and assist students with troubleshooting experimental procedures. During this microbrew presentation, we will explore the ways in which artificial intelligence can be used productively to support student learning, with a particular focus on the science laboratory. We will interact with ChatGPT during our session and see what it can, and cannot, do. We will also consider the ways in which AI can promote inclusivity for multiple modalities and populations.

Speakers

Mary Mawn

Dean and Associate Professor, SUNY Empire State University

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST
Allegheny I Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15275

Microbrew Talk

11:30am EST

Escape the Lab! A Biochemistry Escape Room

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST

Somerset

Here we present an innovative approach to assessing understanding of biochemistry concepts through gamification. Students role play as lab technicians and are given a mission by “demanding” Principal Investigator: determine the identity and sequence of a mystery molecule and escape the lab. The engaging escape room format is an ideal space for problem solving, synergistic teamwork, and active learning. To successfully identify the molecule, students must demonstrate their understanding of the four major classes of biological macromolecules and ways to distinguish among them. Students are provided with an initial clue to the molecule’s identity. Once they successfully interpret each clue, they obtain another piece of the puzzle, thereby incrementally guiding themselves toward identification. Through gamification, we encourage students to work together to solve a problem and develop a deeper understanding of biomolecules. We will discuss the design, implementation, and ideas for effective assessment of this activity.

Speakers

Sharron Crane

Hi! I'm an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology at Rutgers University. In addition to education in the biological sciences, I am dedicated to promoting inclusive environments at my institution. If you want to chat about something unrelated... Read More →

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST
Somerset Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15309

Microbrew Talk

11:30am EST

Faculty Fellowships: Embracing the Power of Collaboration and Participation

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST

Westmoreland Central

Calls for evidence-based teaching have provided educators with opportunities to develop skills and resources. However, faculty may not be aware of opportunities or have limited training at their institutions. Fellowships are important in bridging the potential gaps in educational training and a critical aspect to increasing and maintaining faculty engagement. As an added bonus, faculty also expand their professional networks by participating in fellowships, allowing for a supportive experience that continues to grow. In this interactive workshop, we explore the growing number of faculty development fellowship opportunities and where to find them. Participants will learn about opportunities for professional development through examples and exploration of websites. We will engage participants by discussing the importance of faculty development and collaborations in reenergizing and preventing burnout. Participants will search for resources to help them take advantage of professional development opportunities, connect with other scholars, and share their experiences.

Speakers

Carlos Goller

Teaching Professor, North Carolina State University

I am a Teaching Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences and teach in the Biotechnology Program (BIT) at North Carolina State University. I am very interested in integrating open practices in the courses I teach. I believe strongly in non-throwaway assignments: assignments... Read More →

Heather Townsend

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST
Westmoreland Central Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15276

Microbrew Talk

11:30am EST

Inside Out: A Flipped Exploration of Cell Anatomy and Physiology

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST

Butler

Understanding fundamental concepts about cell anatomy and physiology is critical for students pursuing degrees in all areas of biology, especially microbiology and all health care professions. Despite the completion of prerequisite general biology courses, many students entering 200-level courses such as microbiology and anatomy and physiology have not yet mastered cell structure and function. Remediation of this topic in upper-level courses is precluded due to time constraints. To address this issue, we have designed flipped activities that ensure remediation if needed as well as demonstration of mastery. Our methods include flipped short video lectures with embedded mastery questions, gamification of identifying cell structures and organelles and naming their functions, and higher-level Bloom’s activities to ensure students have the knowledge they need to be prepared for advanced course work. We will provide a walkthrough that includes timeline, examples, and templates.

Speakers

Sandra Fox-Moon

Assistant Professor Biology, Anne Arundel Community College

I am the microbiology coordinator at Anne Arundel Community College and looking to incorporate research into the course.Currently, I am working on Proteus mirabilis biofilms.Besides research I am always looking for ways to engage students on difficult topics like cell parts, diffusion/osmosis... Read More →

Mary Holden-Musser

Assistant Professor Biology, Anne Arundel Community College

Interests: Engaging Teaching Strategies, Incorporating AI, Zoology, Biodiversity, Conservation, Anatomy & Physiology, Student Research

Sunday November 17, 2024 11:30am - 11:45am EST
Butler Federated Tower, 1000 Penn Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15273

Microbrew Talk