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Course number: Chem 164 - Advanced Biochemistry Lab

Reflection on Instructional Change

Chem 164 is a laboratory capstone course taken by graduating seniors. It is structured around semester-long research projects that involve both team and individual work. It focuses on the research planning process and on building experimental design and trouble-shooting skills. Much of this is pretty transferable to a virtual format. An important aspect of the redesign has been to retain students' ability to collaborate on developing research goals and planning their implementation. This has been accomplished by extensive use of the breakout rooms in Zoom.

I had tried breakout rooms in spring 2020, so I knew they could be effective in allowing students to work in teams. The students already have worked extensively in Google docs (in fact they have schooled me on the diversity of Google docs out there). I appreciated seeing how to poll in Zoom during the side car. I have not used that yet in Chem 164 but would use it in a lecture course in the future. Because this is an advanced lab, Labster and other virtual products are not sufficient in scope or depth. The campus purchased a subscription to JoVE instructional videos and I have been incorporating those into the class as well as making my own videos in the lab. One side care member told me about HHMI biointeractive videos and I used one in my class.

Since Chem 164 enrolls almost all graduating seniors, it is important to prepare them for a professional world that expects professional behaviors. I have incorporated a peer review process that takes into account diversity of backgrounds, opinions, approaches, and experiences while students respectfully evaluate each others' professional comportment as a team member on a collaborative project. Respect for all individuals while being truthful in assessment of team members is strongly emphasized. To ensure an equitable learning environment, I also had students fill out a biography in the first week of the semester and then met with them individually to assess their learning environment and technology needs.

Document describes how teams will develop team contracts they will use all semester. A team activity in which team members create a team contract that describes how they will function for the semester.

Alzheimer's biointeractive for Chem 164

Teams completed a biointeractive produced by HHMI on Alzheimer's disease.

Internet image from Wall Street Journal showing family members distance learning at home.

I obtained this image from WSJ showing what families contend with. Represents at least one student situation who was trying to do my class with many siblings in the background. We have to be flexible and supportive of all situations.

Post Side Car - Syllabus and Schedule

Pre Side Car - Syllabus and Schedule

Faculty Biography

Photo of Linda Roberts

I have been teaching at Sac State for over 25 years. I love teaching here and love interacting with our wonderful students. I particularly enjoy doing research with students and have mentored about 100 students in my research lab. I am a dedicated advisor and currently advise for both the SEE and DEGREES programs.

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation NSF Hispanic Serving Institution Award 1832335. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.