Crafting Engaging, Data-Driven Curricula: Reflections from the NCBI BioEd Summit

Posted by fsteele on December 2nd, 2024 Posted in: Uncategorized

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Attending the first-ever NCBI BioEd Summit was an exhilarating and inspiring journey that left me excited to apply new mindsets and approaches in teaching biochemistry.

The summit brought together educators and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) experts with a common mission: to create data-driven, student-centered curricula that foster active learning and scientific discovery, while unlocking the immense potential of NCBI tools in transforming student learning.

A big shoutout to Dr. Rana Morris, Dr. Alexa Salsbury, and Dr. Sally Chang for their informative workshops, thoughtful organization, and tremendous support, which allowed us to dive deep into the wealth of free resources offered by NCBI and engage in collaborative efforts to develop data-driven course material.

One of the most impactful experiences was the panel discussion “Modern Biology Education – Novel Pedagogy and Active Learning in Practice”. This session featured panelists from key organizations like the National Science Foundation (NSF), Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), alongside representatives from R1 institutions, primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), and community colleges. The panel provided valuable insights into the future of life sciences education and the evolving role of bioinformatics in the classroom. Panelists shared diverse approaches for integrating cutting-edge data science and bioinformatics topics into student-focused curricula across various educational settings. Hearing these firsthand experiences and discovering innovative strategies to boost student engagement and critical thinking was both enlightening and inspiring.

 

One of the most rewarding experiences was collaborating with biochemistry educators from diverse institutions, including high schools, R1 institutions, minority-serving institutions (MSIs), and community colleges, to develop a case study titled Frontiers in Breast Cancer: A Case Study Exploring Personalized Medicine Using NCBI Tools. As team Just-Franklin, we crafted this study to guide students through the clinical journey of two patients diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). By leveraging BLAST for gene sequence analysis, ClinVar for identifying clinically significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and iCn3D for structural visualization, students can explore the molecular basis of personalized cancer treatments. This approach offers an exploration and understanding of the intricate relationship between genetics, structure, and clinical decision-making.

The NCBI BioEd Summit was more than just a professional development event—it was a catalyst for growth, collaboration, and innovation. The summit’s emphasis on data-driven learning and its collaborative atmosphere provided me with new strategies to transform my teaching approach and prepare students to tackle the complexities of modern science. By connecting with passionate educators and gaining valuable insights, I left the summit feeling energized and reaffirmed in my commitment to equip the next generation of biochemists and life scientists with the skills and mindset needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving, data-centric world.

This post was written by Ning Sui, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University.