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Enabling students to find experiments fun and just a little bit addictive..... Liz Smythe Department of Biomedical Science. BMS385 Practical cell biology Aim: This module aims to provide third level students with experience of research laboratory work in cell biology.
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Enabling students to find experiments fun and just a little bit addictive..... Liz Smythe Department of Biomedical Science
BMS385 Practical cell biology Aim: This module aims to provide third level students with experience of research laboratory work in cell biology.
BMS385 Practical cell biology Aim: This module aims to provide third level students with experience of research laboratory work in cell biology. Objectives: By the end of this module students should be able to: *Describe the principles of experimental design and the stages of development of a practical protocol * interpret and present data in a format used in a research environment
BMS385 Practical cell biology Aim: This module aims to provide third level students with experience of research laboratory work in cell biology. Objectives: By the end of this module students should be able to: *Describe the principles of experimental design and the stages of development of a practical protocol * interpret and present data in a format used in a research environment Particular emphasis will be placed on the development, execution and interpretation of experimental protocols as is standard practice in a research laboratory.
What is different about this module? Standard practical module: Requirements: Predictable outcome Knowledge of fundamental techniques Logistics of classes with large numbers Isabelle Smythe
Standard practical Problem: what if we need to go back to first principles?
Standard practical Problem: what if we need to go back to first principles? ….or want to try something more elaborate?
…yes we did that in Level 1 but it was set up for us so I didn’t really pay attention…
So what do we do? • Introduction • The principle of experiment design • hypothesis, • experimental set-up, • data interpretation, • re-evaluation of hypothesis
So what do we do? • Introduction • The principle of experiment design • hypothesis, • experimental set-up, • data interpretation, • re-evaluation of hypothesis • The principle behind the specific experiments
So what do we do? • Introduction • The principle of experiment design • hypothesis, • experimental set-up, • data interpretation, • re-evaluation of hypothesis • The principle behind the specific experiments • What we expect from them three related experiments • outline of protocol for the first
So what do we do? • Introduction • The principle of experiment design • hypothesis, • experimental set-up, • data interpretation, • re-evaluation of hypothesis • The principle behind the specific experiments • What we expect from them three related experiments • outline of protocol for the first • Assessment • 30% for write-up • 70% based on lab performance • (thought, planning, execution, interpretation)
So what do we do? • Introduction • The principle of experiment design • hypothesis, • experimental set-up, • data interpretation, • re-evaluation of hypothesis • The principle behind the specific experiments • What we expect from them three related experiments • outline of protocol for the first • Assessment • 30% for write-up • 70% based on lab performance • (thought, planning, execution, interpretation) • What they can expect from us • to ask as many questions as they wish • (but to expect further questions in response)
The first day This may have been a mistake…………
The first day This may have been a mistake………… ..and it IS fairly chaotic…
As the module progresses….. Proficient Creative Observant Enabled Confident Independent
Practicalities Small numbers
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding!
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding! Rewards Students:
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding! Rewards Students: Ownership
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding! Rewards Students: Ownership Taste for bench work
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding! Rewards Students: Ownership Taste for bench work Excitement of science (addiction!)
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding! Rewards Students: Ownership Taste for bench work Excitement of science (addiction!) Awareness
Practicalities Small numbers Feasibility Demanding! Rewards Students: Ownership Taste for bench work Excitement of science (addiction!) Awareness Average students can perform very well
Feedback I thought all my University courses would be like this one Module taught me what science is really like… I enjoyed the module because I was treated like an equal
Acknowledgements Thanks to Bruno Orsi, Trinity College, Dublin