Adaptation of experimental practices in Microbiology to the virtual format without dying in the attempt

BRAVI, VIVIANA; PONTE PONCE, MICAELA; ROCCA, DIAMELA; SILVERO, M. JAZMIN; ALOVERO, FABIANA L.; BECERRA, MARIA CECILIA

Congreso; 6ta Reunión Internacional de Ciencias Farmacéuticas (RICiFa 2020+1).; 2021

Abstract: The current global pandemic has triggered a paradigm shift in education, particularly in hard science teaching where the experimental practice always played a fundamental role. We described the Communication and Information Technologies (CIT) used to overcome the obstacles of teaching a course for undergraduate students (Microbiología General y Farmacéutica) completely online for the first time.The course included 5 laboratory activities and 6 exercise classes and analysis of clinical cases. The topics addressed were reorganized into 8 Virtual Integration Activities (VIA) supported in a Moodle website platform. Each VIA consisted of homework that the students had to do before a live class and final evaluation. Bibliography study material in audiovisual format and a Q&A forum was always uploaded in the Moodle platform with anticipation. In addition to the website, a Whatsapp group, a quiz mobile application and a competition that lasts all the course were also incorporated to improve the student-teacher interaction.The implemented CITs have brought many benefits to the course, which is reflected in the student learning process and the level of satisfaction in an end-of-course survey. Therefore, we are thinking of continuing using the CITs when we restart the regular activities.