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2016

ETH-​News article highlights active learning approaches implemented by CAL

A team from ETH News visited a session of the lecture Fundamentals of Biology IA in order to report on innovative teaching methods implemented by CAL. Their article emphasizes the blended-​learning approach employed in this lecture and how this allows for a personalized learning process, which contributes to its popularity among students. Read the full article

Biology students show persisting misconceptions on molecular interactions

Modified figure from A. Champagne Queloz's paper on students misconceptions (Debunking Key and Lock Biology: Exploring the prevalence and persistence of students' misconceptions on the nature and flexibility of molecular interaction, 2016)

A paper co-authored by Ernst Hafen and Katja Köhler, explores common misconceptions held by biology students at the beginning of their studies and after 3 semesters of biology education. Students Swiss universities performed poorly on many biological questions and only slightly increased after 3 semesters of biology studies. This investigation shows that measures are required to adapt teaching that allow students to develop a better conceptual understanding of biology.

CAL presents flipped lecture at Refresh Teaching

Picture of Katja Köhler of CAL provide input as experts at a refresh teaching event

In a flipped classroom, student aquire knowledge during self-study phases and use class time for discussions and exercises. In this month's Refresh Teaching, Katja Köhler presented how CAL implemented this approach in the lecture Fundamentals of Biology IA. To demonstrate the flipped-classroom approach in a pratical manner, the audience was also asked to prepare for the workshop by reading a short primer.