Abstract:

De Montfort University (DMU, UK) is developing a complete website package for learning human biology and biochemistry in a clinical context, named e-Biology© http://parasitology.dmu.ac.uk/ebiology/. This open-access resource has four virtual modules that are highly interconnected to aid the virtual teaching of human biology and biochemistry: theoretical; laboratory, with mini-videos of an academic performing different biomedical techniques such as histology and urinalysis; microscope, with digitised virtual human tissue slides; and case studies, to facilitate the acquisition of clinical skills. The platform was populated with new resources for the teaching of clinical biochemistry in Summer 2020 as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and was initially offered in a range of medical/health programmes at the universities of Chester (BSc Biology, BSc Human Nutrition, BSc Pharmacology) and Nottingham (BMedSci Medicine with a Foundation Year) for testing purposes. Students at these two English Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) were very appreciative of the virtual package, specifically the virtual laboratory, as detailed in the feedback questionnaire distributed early in 2021 (at the beginning of the second term, to provide these students with the necessary time to try and use e-Biology for their studies). Although our results should be considered preliminary, as we are still collecting feedback, participants reported acquisition of knowledge of specific clinical biochemistry tests for diagnosing kidney diseases (33.3% agreed; 33.3% strongly agreed) and non-invasive techniques for confirming kidney pathology (50% agreed; 16.7% strongly agreed). Students also highlighted that e-Biology helped them with preparing their exams (50% agreed; 50% undecided) and recommended the development of similar environments to aid their study of other subjects. Similar results were observed in the BSc Biomedical Science (BMS) at DMU, after using these novel virtual resources for the online teaching (lectures and practicals) of the final year module of Clinical Biochemistry. Completion of the different virtual clinical case studies available in e-Biology (case studies related to clinical biochemistry and public health) seemed to facilitate the acquisition of reflective skills, key to gaining clinical biochemistry skills. Moreover, in combination with Blackboard (Blackboard Inc, Washington, D.C.), e-Biology effectively contributed to the online teaching of this important final year module for our BMS students, a module that was entirely taught online to address pandemic restrictions and social distancing regulations. Comprehensive feedback collected at these three HIEs will be used to develop further online resources to strengthen the current content available in the e-Biology package, to specifically support the Foundation Year of the BMedSci Medicine Science programme and related clinical programmes. Academics could use this virtual resource to strengthen their teaching delivery in a myriad of activities, inside and outside of the classroom, which in turn will enhance students’ engagement and motivation, pivotal for their progression and academic performance.

Keywords:

E-Biology, clinical biochemistry, online learning, clinical skills.