bioCEED news

MOL203 på 1-2-3

MOL-203 Gene structure and Function is known amongst molecular biology students as an interesting, but challenging course. This is the last semester the course runs, before it will be renewed and return as an introductory molecular biology course. But this didn’t mean that the current students didn’t need help before the exam. It was for this reason that students took initiative to support just the students. It was an extra initiative in addition to the colloquiums already existing in MOL203. I am a student in this course and also a student representative for bioCEED, and this is my views on “MOL på 1-2-3”.

For this reason, Helix and representatives from bioCEED decided to create a fresh up course for the students to prepare them for the exam. Helix took the initial initiative for the fresh-up course with support and cheers from bioCEED. It ended up being given as a 4-time session over a month. With earlier students of the course as session leaders the current students could get a broader view of the curriculum.

Usually, (a department or one of) the student union groups on campus organizes crash courses in many subjects. Many students find these helpful, while some may find them being confusing and too short, as they are often no more than 2-hours long. Because of these weekly sessions close to the exam may be better to advance learning. Each session had a theme from the curriculum, and time for students to ask their questions.

Responses from the students were mostly positive. As oppose to having one class with summaries, they liked that the classes were split over several weeks. They also thought it was helpful that they could send in their questions in advance, and that exam type questions were in focus. Criticism from students were that the sessions could have been a bit more prepared, but because it was put together in a such short time, so it was challenging to make the fresh-up completely bulletproof. The fresh-up course was overall very educational and well-liked by the students.

Unfortunately, only the first session could (be) run in person, because of the ongoing corona situation. However, the online session turned out to be a great success. In addition to going through a lot of material and exam questions, the session opened and sometimes ended with a kahoot about the curriculum, with prices for the winners. The turnout was good, and sessions were interactive with student participation. For a course with no mandatory meet ups, it can be difficult to follow all lectures and understand everything, therefore the ‘MOL på 1-2-3 session’ served as an additional “place” where students could learn and ask their questions. This way of learning is something us students would like more of, since we can be more engaged with the material. Thanks to Helix for taking the initiative and for bioCEED supporting new ways of learning.

Written by Ingvild Straumøy, bioCEED student representative.

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