Blended learning in biochemistry: The development of pre-class and post-class learning aids for electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation.

Electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation are always a challenging topic for students studying metabolism. We had adopted blended learning in metabolism teaching and evaluated the learning experiences of students. In this project, a pre-class learning aid the Story Mode and a post-class learning aid the Revision Mode in the Powerland was developed that facilitated students learning electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation. In the Story Mode, pathways were presented by short animations and simplified diagram that allowed students to understand basic concepts and recall simple facts of the topic. Students were asked to watch the animations before class to acquire lower level of cognitive learning first, and this facilitated students in understanding more complicated concepts later on during class. Another challenge that students faced was that they were especially weak at integrating metabolic pathways and understand the relationships between these pathways. A metro map was designed in the Revision Mode that aided students in knowledge integration, and the functions of biomolecules were summarized in flashcards that helped students in revising the concepts. This interactive self-learning tool was packaged as a courseware using the Articulate Storyline.

Using metro lines for integration of nucleotide metabolic pathways.

Students always encounter difficulties in studying biochemical pathways. They are especially weak in understanding the relationships between metabolic pathways and their integration because these pathways are always taught one-by-one in class. In the past, various online resources have been developed to facilitate students' understanding toward energy metabolism. Although these learning materials enable students to understand individual metabolic pathway in a clearer manner, many of them fail to demonstrate the linkages between these pathways. The "AG City" is a self-learning tool which aims to arouse students' interest in exploring nucleotide metabolism. We have designed a metro map as a concept map to allow students to have an overview of different pathways as well as their integration. Major pathways are presented as railway lines in an easy-to-understand and interactive manner using navigation, animations, and narrations. Key molecules involved in the pathways are presented as "railway stations". Students can easily identify common "railway stations" presented in different pathways and link the concepts that they have learnt together. This interactive self-learning tool has been packaged as a courseware using the Articulate Storyline eLearning authoring software. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 47(5):532-537, 2019.