Course: Human Genetics: Human Health and Disease (Lecture & Laboratory course)
Instructor: David Fitch, Professor of Biology at NYU
Students enrolled: 5
Technology used: NYU Classes, VoiceThread, and SimUText
“Human Genetics: Human Health and Disease” is a theoretical and practical two-credit lecture course and a two-credit lab course in which students in Chicago, New York, and Shanghai explore how genes shape human traits, and how genetic defects can result in diseases. This semester, David Fitch, Professor of Biology at NYU, is teaching the course remotely from New York to five students in China and the United States.
Fitch mainly uses pre-recorded lectures on VoiceThread to cover the theories of genetics, which allows students the freedom to watch lectures whenever they want. His first video included a welcome video, followed by audio and annotations explaining knowledge in detail on the subsequent slides. On VoiceThread, students are able to leave text, audio, or even video comments visible to their classmates. Comments can be made at any point, and students use them to ask questions, express thoughts, and spur discussion.
Fitch’s video welcome message on the first slide of Lecture 1.
For part of the lab portion of the course, Fitch uses SimUText, an interactive biology textbook and virtual lab, to cover major concepts in college-level ecology. The virtual textbook introduces knowledge on DNA, epidemiology, and experimental designs, with examples in both basic and applied genetics. On this platform, students are able to directly interact with the subject matter through simulated experiments such as DNA replication and herd immunity for Smallpox. They receive instant feedback on questions, and can also participate in interactive activities built into the text.
Fitch says that the limitations on in-person interaction have highlighted the importance of personal emails in sustaining student engagement. He says his students seem to prefer this asynchronous way of communicating their issues, as it allows them to better prepare their queries and responses, and understand the content at their own pace.
Challenges and Lesson Learned
Fitch says a major challenge was pre-recording the lectures, and suggests that other instructors begin preparing content as early as possible.
He initially had a head start on putting lectures online, but the closures of NYU Shanghai and later, NYU’s New York campus resulted in interruptions. Eventually, Fitch’s own lab was shut down. “I think the virus has caused a lot of challenges to our work habits and even changed priorities,” says Fitch. “But students are working and interacting and thinking, so that is incredibly uplifting for me. I just hope I am giving them back the same level of positivity.”
Fitch also struggled with the lack of interaction when pre-recording lectures. “I record over and over trying to get things right. But…getting it right–pitching it properly–really depends on the classroom dynamic,” says Fitch. “In the classroom, you can look at students’ eyes and see if they are getting it or not. I also did not expect how difficult it would be to revamp labs for online delivery. Had to really think about it and try out the new labs myself.”