Abstract:

The author teaches Genes and Society, a first year undergrad module with a curriculum of biotechnology and life-science to a class of 550 non life-science students, where teaching becomes a process of continuous learning at both ends. In spite of the availability of several teaching tools, such a class will be disastrous if the teacher and students do not communicate with each other in unison. Apart from disseminating subject material to students, there is a demand of constant upgrade of knowledge and course material. The author will present his teaching strategies, case-studies on how he motivates certain types of students, funny but informative correlations, like, ‘why a police inspector is dumber than a thief’, the connection between ‘how babies are made’ and DNA super-coiling, how he psychologically prepares and supports students and the modes of assessments. Furthermore, he will share the use of the technically advanced Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) and the use of a paper strip in achieving his goals of reaching the students.