LEARNING WITH TECHNOLOGY
Self-Directed Learning
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Learning by Doing! I always emphasize that not all tasks and assignments will be graded. I want my students to do the tasks because they want to, not because they have to. Students will commit themselves in doing their tasks if they love what they do. How do we get students to do that? We must spark the interest first, pique their curiosity, once they are interested, they will explore, they will do beyond our expectations without even being asked to do. Amazing results!
Innovative Learning with Augmented Reality
First-semester Microbiology students, when asked during their first lecture about microbes, gave an impression of microorganisms were harmful and only caused diseases. With the goal to develop a mindset that differs judgment and understand their relevance in everyday application, a project called THANK A MICROBE was developed. As the 21st Century learners, this project was designed by fusing learning with technology using Web 2.0 tools. The theme of the project was Beneficial Microbes and Their Applications. Each group was given an application based on the theme, Agriculture, Food, Medical, Environment and Industry. Students were asked to choose a microbe of interest based on the application. They retrieved and gathered information about the microbe from scientific journals, the internet and other reliable sources. After collecting, assimilating and interpreting information relevant to the microbes, a maximum of a 3-minute-video was made to highlight the beneficial impact of the microbe to the environment, human or industry. An A1 sized poster was created. The poster exhibition was done in front of invited judges and evaluation was made based on an augmented poster rubric.
This initiative empowered learners to use their creativities, open their minds on the importance of microorganisms. Using Augmented Reality, creating videos and animations, developing a poster and presenting to an audience have spiked their curiosity and inspired them to explore more about microbiology, fostering independent research and critical thinking skills. This project has also equipped learners on the knowledge and skills they need to face their college life and benefit from the experience they received in the process. I myself was inspired with the students I worked with.
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https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/lFlmGSOajEI4zg/thank-a-microbe
Game - Based Learning
FEEDBACK FROM STUDENTS
Experiential Learning
Have you ever seen a microbe? Do you know that you can hold a virus? A journey to a microbe world was created through The Awesome Microbes Carnival organized by Microbiology undergraduates. The idea was to give experience for a person to observe microbes under a microscope, to watch animations of the microbes through augmented reality poster and then hold the microbe created from 3D printer. Awesome experience!
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A project called Microbes and Us was designed for Microbial Ecology students to explore the interaction between microorganisms and their ecosystem. Students were asked to do a documentary with infographics and newsletter on the habitats they chose. Check out the website.