Harnessing open science practices to teach ecology and evolutionary biology using interactive tutorials.

Open science skills are increasingly important for a career in ecology and evolutionary biology (EEB) as efforts to make data and analyses publicly available continue to become more commonplace. While learning core concepts in EEB, students are also expected to gain skills in conducting open science to prepare for future careers. Core open science skills like programming, data sharing, and practices that promote reproducibility can be taught to undergraduate students alongside core concepts in EEB. Yet, these skills are not always taught in biology undergraduate programs, and a major challenge in developing open science skills and learning EEB concepts simultaneously is the high cognitive load associated with learning multiple disparate concepts at the same time. One solution is to provide students with easily digestible, scaffolded, pre-formatted code in the form of vignettes and interactive tutorials. Here, we present six open source teaching tutorials for undergraduate students in EEB. These tutorials teach fundamental ecological concepts, data literacy, programming (using R software), and analysis skills using publicly available datasets while introducing students to open science concepts and tools. Spanning a variety of EEB topics and skill levels, these tutorials serve as examples and resources for educators to integrate open science tools, programming, and data literacy into teaching EEB at the undergraduate level.

Effectiveness of selected small group teaching methods for undergraduate medical students on basic concepts of epidemiology: A quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Teaching epidemiology to young medical students using traditional teaching techniques is fraught with myriad challenges. Incorporating innovative small group teaching (SGT) approaches that promote active learning, practical application, and critical thinking can help in overcoming these challenges. AIM/OBJECTIVE: To identify the most effective SGT method from selected three approaches [tutorial technique (TT), problem-based learning (PBL), and fishbowl technique (FBT)] to teach the basic concepts of epidemiology to the third-year undergraduate medical students of a private medical college in Puducherry, Southern India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among third-year undergraduate medical students for 6 months. The sample size was calculated to be 60 using the nMaster 2.0 sample size software. Three groups were formed with 20 students each. A pre-test, which included fifty multiple-choice questions covering topic one, was conducted for students in all three groups. An SGT session on topic one (dynamics of disease transmission) was held on the same day by different facilitators for three groups A, B, and C using the TT, PBL, and FBT, respectively. After 6 weeks of the SGT session for topic one, a post-test using the same questions was organized for all three groups to identify the effectiveness of each SGT method. The above sequence of events was followed for topic two (study designs) and topic three (investigation of disease outbreak) among all groups in the subsequent months. A written informed consent was sought from all students. The collected data was entered in MS Excel 2010 and analyzed using SPSS 21. The pre- and post-tests for all topics in all three groups were compared using a paired t-test, and an ANOVA test was used to find any difference between the groups. RESULTS: The mean post-test score in each of the three groups for all topics had improved when compared with the mean pre-test score, which was significantly different between the three groups. Further, the mean score of group B (PBL group) was found to be higher than group C (FBT) but not significantly higher compared to group A (TT). The mean score of the feedback where the participants were asked to rate the overall session was found to be high in group B (PBL) followed by group A (TT). CONCLUSION: PBL and TT were found to be an equally effective way of small group methods for teaching-learning epidemiology in medical school.

Mapas mentais e cartilhas no ensino remoto emergencial: uma proposta educacional inovadora frente à pandemia da Covid-19 / Mind maps and primers in emergency remote teaching: an innovative educational proposal in the face of the Covid-19 pandemicMapas mentales y primers en la enseñanza a distancia de emergencia: una propuesta educativa inovadora ante la pandemia Covid-19 / Mind maps and primers in emergency remote teaching: an innovative educational proposal in the face of the Covid-19 pandemicMapas mentales y primers en la enseñanza a distancia de emergencia: una propuesta educativa inovadora ante la pandemia Covid-19

Objetivo: Na perspectiva da formação continuada de professores universitários, o presente trabalho visa discutir os resultados obtidos através da aplicação de um tutorial virtual, com vistas à inovação da prática pedagógica docente. Método: Trata-se de um relato de experiência envolvendo a utilização de mapas mentais e cartilhas educativas em ambientes virtuais, no contexto do Ensino Remoto Emergencial (ERE), na Universidade Pública na Bahia. Resultados: Para tanto, por meio de trabalho colaborativo, foram realizadas atividades síncronas e assíncronas. Dois ambientes de aprendizagem foram utilizados, Google Classroom e Meet. Diferentes possibilidades para utilização dos mapas mentais e das cartilhas educativas foram apresentadas, considerando estudos anteriores da equipe proponente. Ademais, foram discutidas possibilidades para uso destas ferramentas didáticas durante o ERE. A atividade de capacitação docente envolveu doze professores universitários, os quais foram estimulados a inovarem as suas práticas pedagógicas, por meio da utilização das Tecnologias Digitais da Informação e Comunicação (TDICs). Conclusão: Diante da capacitação, os participantes atuaram como sujeitos reflexivos e ativos na vivência do processo de ensino-aprendizagem em ambientes virtuais. O tutorial, por meio de um processo educativo participativo, proporcionou ações de trabalho em equipe, com foco na inovação da prática pedagógica docente e na melhoria do processo de ensino-aprendizagem.

Objective:From the perspective of the continued training of university teachers, this work aims to discuss the results obtained through the application of a virtual tutorial, with a view to innovating teaching pedagogical practice. Method: This is an experience report involving the use of mind maps and educational booklets in virtual environments, in the context of Emergency Remote Teaching (ERE), at the Public University in Bahia. Results: To this end, through collaborative work, synchronous and asynchronous activities were carried out. Two learning environments were used, Google Classroom and Meet. Different possibilities for using mental maps and educational booklets were presented, considering previous studies by the proposing team. Furthermore, possibilities for using these teaching tools during the ERE were discussed. The teaching training activity involved twelve university professors, who were encouraged to innovate their pedagogical practices, through theuse of Digital Information and Communication Technologies (TDICs). Conclusion: During the training, participants acted as reflective and active subjects in experiencing the teaching-learning process in virtual environments. The tutorial, through a participatory educational process, provided teamwork actions, focusing on innovation in teaching pedagogical practice and improving the teaching-learning process.

Objetivo: Desde la perspectiva de la formación continua de docentes universitarios, este trabajo tiene como objetivo discutir los resultados obtenidos mediante la aplicación de una tutoría virtual, con miras a innovar la práctica pedagógica docente. Método: Se trata de un relato de experiencia sobre el uso de mapas mentales y folletos educativos en ambientes virtuales, en el contexto de la Enseñanza Remota de Emergencia (ERE), en la Universidad Pública de Bahía. Resultados: Para ello, a través del trabajo colaborativo, se realizaron actividades sincrónicas y asincrónicas. Se utilizaron dos entornos de aprendizaje, Google Classroom y Meet. Se presentaron diferentes posibilidades de uso de mapas mentales y folletos educativos, considerando estudios previos del equipo proponente. Además, se discutieron las posibilidades de utilizar estas herramientas didácticas durante el ERE. La actividad de formación docente involucró a doce profesores universitarios, quienes fueron incentivados a innovar en sus prácticas pedagógicas, mediante el uso de las Tecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación Digital (TDIC). Conclusión: Durante la capacitación, los participantes actuaron como sujetos reflexivos y activos al vivir el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en ambientes virtuales. La tutoría, a través de un proceso educativo participativo, brindó acciones de trabajo en equipo, enfocando la innovación en la práctica pedagógica docente y la mejora del proceso deenseñanza-aprendizaje.

The Benefits of Using Case Study Focussed, Problem Based Learning Approaches to Unit Design for Biomedical Science Students.

As part of the Biomedical Sciences undergraduate degree course students are required to apply biological principles to the interpretation of clinical case studies and the diagnosis of patients. Case study-based learning, i.e., application of knowledge to patient diagnosis, is new to most students as case studies do not form part of non-applied A level courses in biological sciences. This approach is an example of Problem Based Learning (PBL) which has been shown to support higher levels of student learning, encouraging critical thinking and analysis. PBL approaches have also been shown to increase academic satisfaction and student engagement. In recent years we have observed a downwards trend in student engagement and historically student performance in applied case study-based assessments to be lower than that observed for assessments based on detailing fundamental biological principles. We hypothesised that PBL teaching delivery would support students in preparing for case study-based assessments, helping them to demonstrate their critical evaluation and problem-solving skills, and hence, improve student performance. We also hypothesised that the student learning experience would be enhanced by a PBL teaching delivery approach which would improve overall engagement. We therefore redesigned a second year Biomedical Sciences degree haematology and clinical biochemistry unit: "Blood Science," with a stronger focus on PBL, including case study focussed activities throughout the unit. We subsequently analysed whether this PBL-focussed unit design improved student experience and feedback, student engagement and student confidence for biomedical science undergraduate students. We present here, our teaching strategy and the impact our changes had on student feedback for the 21/22 and 22/23 academic years. Our findings demonstrate that case study-based activities and tutorial PBL exercises, when incorporated into the curriculum design, can improve student experience in the Biomedical Sciences and other biological science undergraduate degree courses.

The COVID-19 e-lective: using innovation to manage disrupted medical student clinical placements.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work, spend, live, and learn. The impact was felt in the health sector where hospitals cancelled elective surgery, put on hold outpatient services, and implemented new social distancing procedures and telehealth systems, to enable hospitals to increase bed capacity. For medical students, these factors meant significant disruption to their clinical placements, remote delivery of their education, cessation of international and interstate placements, complicated by significant travel restrictions and border closures. There were concerns that final year students might be unable to graduate that year due to this lack of clinical exposure. INNOVATION: As a result of this disruption in late March 2020 we developed an innovative 6 week 'COVID-19 e-lective' rotation, consisting of online modules, virtual clinical tutorials and a COVID project totalling the equivalent of 200 h of work. RESULTS: An evaluation was undertaken that found it to be remarkably successful in meeting the students' learning needs and alleviating concerns about disrupted placements. It was also conducted during 2021 for all Year 4 students to help expand clinical placement opportunities. OUTCOMES: This paper describes the e-lective, its innovations, its challenges, and its evaluation findings, for others to learn from.

Effect of video tutorial delivery method on D/HH students' content comprehension.

Introduction: Using video tutorials to deliver instructional content has become common practices nowadays. However, it is required to investigate how to implement new methods to deliver instructional content to deaf students to ensure success of their learning and reduce their reliance on personnel support or consultation from hearing peers. Therefore, and in light of cognitive theory of multimedia learning, this study experimented three different video tutorial methods to deliver instructional content that are tailored to deaf students' learning needs. The three methods included: (a) sign language only, (b) captioned text only, and (c) sign language and captioned text combined. Methods: The study applied a mixed methods research design using pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design (tests scores) and qualitative research design (interviews). Fifty-four undergraduate deaf students from a large university in Saudi Arabia participated in this study, and of those participants, fifteen deaf students participated in semistructured interviews. Results and discussion: One-way analysis of variance results showed that using video tutorial that presents declarative content with captions only was significantly effective in comparison with the other methods. While the video tutorial that presents procedural content with sign language only was significantly effective in comparison with the other methods. Interview results confirmed the quantitative results. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Online student tutorials for effective peer teaching in digital times: a longitudinal quantitative study.

BACKGROUND: Peer-assisted learning represents a favoured method of teaching in universities. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated transferring medical education to digital formats, and subsequently, the question has arisen of whether online tutorials might be effective. This study, thus, investigated the efficacy of online tutorials in a communication course by assessing the interaction, verbal communication, and nonverbal communication of tutors and students. METHODS: Second-year medical students were invited to participate in this longitudinal quantitative study. Validated and self-developed questionnaires (e.g., Jefferson Empathy Scale) including 39 questions (rated on a 7- or 5-point Likert scale) were used to assess the different variables including interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and students' learning success. RESULTS: Out of 165 medical students, 128 took part in the study. The students as well as tutors reported that they found each other likeable (Mstudents = 4.60±0.71; Mtutors = 4.38±0.53; p > .05). Learning success increased throughout the communication course (Cohen's d = 0.36-0.74). The nonverbal and verbal communication in the simulated patient (SP) encounter was also rated as high by all three groups (Mnonverbal = 3.90±0.83; Mverbal = 4.88±0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Interaction as well as nonverbal and verbal communication occurred in the online format, indicating that online tutorials can be effective. The implementation of SPs increases the efficiency of synchronous online learning as it enhances the simulation of a real patient-physician encounter. Thus, online tutorials are a valuable amendment to medical education.

Impacto de las tutorías en la formación integral de estudiantes universitarios / Impacto dos tutoriais na formação integral dos estudantes universitários / Impact of tutorials on the comprehensive training of university students

RESUMEN Los vertiginosos cambios producidos en la sociedad obligan a las instituciones de Educación Superior (IES) a formar ciudadanos con competencias profesionales y personales capaces de enfrentar los permanentes desafíos. En ese contexto, la labor del docente-tutor contribuye significativamente a este propósito y debe fortalecerse. Para ello, se realiza un diagnóstico cuyo objetivo consistió en conocer el estado de implementación de las tutorías y su impacto en la formación de los estudiantes. Se parte del análisis bibliográfico sobre la concepción y la práctica de la tutoría universitaria para, mediante un estudio cuantitativo, determinar el criterio de los educandos como actores principales. La muestra probabilística estuvo conformada por 180 estudiantes, de una población de 1557, de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, Humanas y Tecnologías de la Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta validada científicamente, que determinó 97 % de fiabilidad y 95 % de confianza, lo que significa un alto porcentaje de correspondencia entre las variables de estudio y las escalas de medición. Estos estudiantes reciben diversas asignaturas, entre ellas algunas relacionadas con la actividad física y el deporte. Los resultados obtenidos se sometieron al análisis inferencial de multivariantes que permitió comprobar la tendencia de los estudiantes con respecto a la actividad tutorial que oferta la institución de Educación Superior.

RESUMO As vertiginosas mudanças na sociedade obrigam as Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) a formar cidadãos com competências profissionais e pessoais capazes de enfrentar desafios permanentes. Neste contexto, o trabalho do professor-tutor contribui significativamente para este fim e deve ser reforçado. Para o efeito, foi realizado um diagnóstico com o objectivo de conhecer o estado de implementação dos tutoriais e o seu impacto na formação dos estudantes. O ponto de partida foi uma análise bibliográfica da concepção e prática da tutoria universitária a fim de determinar, por meio de um estudo quantitativo, os critérios dos estudantes como principais atores. A amostra probabilística consistiu em 180 estudantes, de uma população de 1557, da Faculdade de Ciências da Educação, Humanidades e Tecnologias da Universidade Nacional de Chimborazo, aos quais foi aplicado um inquérito cientificamente validado, que determinou 97% de fiabilidade e 95% de confiança, o que significa uma elevada percentagem de correspondência entre as variáveis de estudo e as escalas de medição. Estes estudantes recebem várias disciplinas, incluindo algumas relacionadas com atividade física e desporto. Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos a análises inferenciais multivariadas, o que nos permitiu verificar a tendência dos estudantes no que diz respeito à atividade tutorial oferecida pela instituição de ensino superior.

ABSTRACT The vertiginous changes produced in society force Higher Education Institutions (HEI) to train citizens with professional and personal skills capable of facing permanent challenges. In this context, the work of the teacher-tutor contributes significantly to this purpose and should be strengthened. For this, a diagnosis is made which objective was to know the state of implementation of the tutoring and its impact on the training of the students. It is started from the bibliographical analysis on the conception and practice of university tutoring to, through a quantitative study, determines the criteria of the students as main actors. The probabilistic sample consisted of 180 students, from a population of 1557, from the Faculty of Education, Human Sciences and Technology of the National University of Chimborazo, to whom a scientifically validated survey was applied, which determined 97% reliability and 95% confidence, which means a high percentage of correspondence between the study variables and the measurement scales. These students receive various subjects, including some related to physical activity and sports. The results obtained were submitted to the multivariate inferential analysis that allowed verifying the tendency of the students with respect to the tutorial activity offered by the Higher Education institution.

'Student tutors go online' - Investigation of cognitive and social congruence in online student tutorials - a longitudinal study.

The concept of peer-assisted learning (PAL) has been implemented at many medical faculties. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, parts of the medical education experience transitioned to digital formats. However, little is known about PAL and online student tutorials. PAL is effective due to cognitive and social congruence. This study aims to investigate these concepts in an online student tutorial on taking a patient's medical history. This longitudinal study took place in a preclinical communication course on how to take a patient's medical history. In an online student tutorial, the students learned how to take a patient's psychosocial medical history. Using standardised questionnaires, cognitive and social congruence were assessed. T-tests of independent samples were performed for data comparison. The participants included 128 second-year medical students and 5 student tutors. Cognitive congruence (Mstudent = 4.19 ± 0.56; Mstudenttutor = 4.04 ± 0.57) and social congruence (MStudent = 4.25 ± 0.56; MStudenttutor = 4.06 ± 0.57) were high for both students and student tutors in the online setting. In comparison to the face-to-face group, students in the online setting considered the student tutors to be significantly (p < .05) more socially congruent. Learning success increased during the course; however, it was not influenced by cognitive congruence. Cognitive and social congruence are high in an online setting. The students' learning success increased during the online tutorial. Based on the higher level of social congruence, student tutors might be very motivated to be open and approachable in an online setting. Simultaneously, students might pay more attention and participate actively in the online setting. Social and cognitive congruence contribute to the effectiveness of online student tutorials and, thus, online student tutorials should be integrated into medical training.

Virtual class room as a learning format in a family medicine residency program: Lessons learned in Palestine.

PURPOSE: Due to geopolitical and socioeconomic challenges, the Family Medicine (FM) speciality in Palestine is in early stages of development. Volunteer British General Practitioner (BGP) trainers worked with FM faculty to develop an online tutorial program (OTP) and a novel evaluation framework E-QUaL (Evaluation-Quality, Utilization and Learning) to enhance residents' patient-centered communication and clinical skills. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three OTP cycles were facilitated and evaluated at An Najah National University (ANNU) in Palestine between 2017-2020. Qualitative data were collected during focus groups and online chats and analysed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The development and joint facilitation of the OTP developed faculty skills and enhanced clinically oriented education. The collaborative (BGPs and ANNU faculty) approach and the use of the EQUaL framework helped to identify and address strengths and opportunities as well as the challenges and threats of the educational content and the virtual learning format with each iteration. The COVID pandemic provided a new and inexpensive platform which improved training quality. Issues such as the volunteer nature of BGPs, internet instability, and differing cultural approaches and expectations between physicians and patients were addressed in a continuous quality improvement approach and continues today. This may be a useful model in other low resourced settings.

[Undergraduate Pathology: Video tutorials including digital pathology make teaching more practical and the subject more attractive]. / Anatomía Patológica para el estudiante de Medicina: videotutoriales con integración de Patología digital como una valiosa herramienta para hacer la asignatura más práctica y atractiva.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Although pathology is one of the cornerstone subjects of the medical curriculum, for many students it can prove too theoretical and remote from clinical relevance. We present the results of a new distance learning project designed to make the teaching of pathology more practical and render the subject more attractive to the medical student. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We developed a teaching programme which included digital pathology images and video tutorials of clinical cases; the students were required to arrive at a final diagnosis. An explanatory video of how biopsies are processed was also included. Twitter was used for rapid interaction with the students. A questionnaire was then completed by the participants evaluating the various aspects of the project. RESULTS: All the students reached a correct diagnosis for the clinical cases. 89% of the participants were extremely satisfied with the project. The majority agreed that the different activities were interesting and useful for improving their understanding of pathology and thus recommended that they should be continued. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the inclusion of digital pathology into the curriculum together with video tutorials to enhance undergraduate pathology teaching. In the future, such distance learning could prove a useful resource in combination with conventional face-to-face lectures and tutorials.

Anatomía Patológica para el estudiante de Medicina: videotutoriales con integración de Patología digital como una valiosa herramienta para hacer la asignatura más práctica y atractiva / Undergraduate Pathology: Video tutorials including digital pathology make teaching more practical and the subject more attractive

Introducción y objetivo: La asignatura de Anatomía Patológica es fundamental en la formación del estudiante de Medicina. Sin embargo, para muchos estudiantes la asignatura presenta un excesivo contenido teórico, poco trasladable a la práctica clínica. Presentamos los resultados de un proyecto de innovación docente dirigido a facilitar la transmisión del conocimiento a distancia y hacer de la Anatomía Patológica una asignatura más práctica y atractiva para el estudiante de Medicina. Materiales y métodos: Elaboramos material didáctico integrando imágenes de enfermedad digital con videotutoriales para la exposición de casos clínicos donde los alumnos debían llegar al diagnóstico final. Creamos un vídeo explicativo donde exponemos como se procesan las biopsias y utilizamos redes sociales (Twitter) para mantener una comunicación más fluida con los estudiantes. Finalmente, valoramos la percepción del estudiante sobre las actividades realizadas a través de una encuesta. Resultados: Al final de la actividad todos los alumnos resolvieron los casos clínicos y llegaron al diagnóstico correcto de manera exitosa. El 89% de los alumnos mostró un alto nivel de satisfacción con la actividad. Para la mayoría de los participantes la actividad resultó interesante y didáctica, mejorando su experiencia de aprendizaje, por lo que recomendaban mantenerla en el futuro. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados soportan la integración de la enfermedad digital en combinación con video tutoriales como una herramienta exitosa en el aprendizaje de la Anatomía Patológica. Este modelo podría mantenerse en el futuro como un recurso útil en combinación con el aprendizaje presencial.(AU)

Introduction and objectives: Although pathology is one of the cornerstone subjects of the medical curriculum, for many students it can prove too theoretical and remote from clinical relevance. We present the results of a new distance learning project designed to make the teaching of pathology more practical and render the subject more attractive to the medical student. Materials and methods: We developed a teaching programme which included digital pathology images and video tutorials of clinical cases; the students were required to arrive at a final diagnosis. An explanatory video of how biopsies are processed was also included. Twitter was used for rapid interaction with the students. A questionnaire was then completed by the participants evaluating the various aspects of the project. Results: All the students reached a correct diagnosis for the clinical cases. 89% of the participants were extremely satisfied with the project. The majority agreed that the different activities were interesting and useful for improving their understanding of pathology and thus recommended that they should be continued.Conclusions: Our results support the inclusion of digital pathology into the curriculum together with video tutorials to enhance undergraduate pathology teaching. In the future, such distance learning could prove a useful resource in combination with conventional face-to-face lectures and tutorials.(AU)

The INDEPTH (Impact of Nuclear Domains on Gene Expression and Plant Traits) Academy: a community resource for plant science.

This Community Resource paper introduces the range of materials developed by the INDEPTH (Impact of Nuclear Domains on Gene Expression and Plant Traits) COST Action made available through the INDEPTH Academy. Recent rapid growth in understanding of the significance of epigenetic controls in plant and crop science has led to a need for shared, high-quality resources, standardization of protocols, and repositories for open access data. The INDEPTH Academy provides a range of masterclass tutorials, standardized protocols, and teaching webinars, together with a rapidly developing repository to support imaging and spatial analysis of the nucleus and deep learning for automated analysis. These resources were developed partly as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also driven by needs and opportunities identified by the INDEPTH community of ~200 researchers in 80 laboratories from 32 countries. This community report outlines the resources produced and how they will be extended beyond the INDEPTH project, but also aims to encourage the wider community to engage with epigenetics and nuclear structure by accessing these resources.

Improving Patient Education of Facial Fractures Using 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVE: Advances in 3-dimensional modeling have revolutionized presurgical planning for maxillofacial reconstruction, yet little is known about how this technology may affect patient education. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of 2-dimensional computed tomography versus 3-dimensional computed tomography for patient education in maxillofacial reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Crossover study. SETTING: General otolaryngology outpatients from a tertiary referral center were recruited. METHODS: A single computed tomography data set of a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture was used to generate 2 educational video tutorials: one in a 2-dimensional format and one in a 3-dimensional format. The tutorials were embedded into the QualtricsXM platform. Participants were randomly assigned into 2 groups. Group 1 viewed the 2-dimensional tutorial, took a self-assessment survey, took an information recall survey, viewed the 3-dimensional tutorial, and finally took a tutorial comparison survey. Group 2 followed the same sequence but viewed the 3-dimensional tutorial followed by the 2-dimensional tutorial. RESULTS: Group 2 participants (viewing the 3-dimensional tutorial first) scored better on the self-assessment survey than their counterparts in group 1 did (P = .023). Group 2 also scored better on the recall survey (P = .042). Of all participants, 61% preferred the 3-dimensional tutorial, and 31% preferred the use of both tutorials together in the comparison survey. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional patient educational tutorial regarding a zygomaticomaxillary complex fracture resulted in better knowledge retention and was preferred over the 2-dimensional format.

Trainingspace: Neuroeducation Without Borders.

Advancements in the field of neuroinformatics have resulted in a massive explosion of raw data of many varieties, yet many traditional neuroscience training programs have not changed their curricula to reflect the urgent need for improved computational skills that would enable trainees to handle, organize, and interrogate such large, multimodal datasets. Thus, the objective of this project was to build an open access hub of neuroscience educational resources to fill the gap between current neuroscience curricula and the computationally focused skillset required to work with big data. To achieve this aim, we invited representatives from the world's leading neuroscience societies and large-scale brain initiatives to form the INCF Training and Education Committee that would provide oversight over the content and capabilities of the online hub. As a result, we developed TrainingSpace (https://training.incf.org/), an open access hub of nearly 500 multimedia courses, lectures, and tool tutorials covering the subspecialisms of neuroscience and neuroinformatics, as well as computer science, data science, and ethics. In addition to course content, TrainingSpace also provides users with access to publicly available datasets through KnowledgeSpace, a discoverability portal and community encyclopedia for neuroscience, as well as a question and answer forum, Neurostars.org. Since its launch in 2019, TrainingSpace has steadily increased in popularity with both trainees and trainers alike. It has also become popular with content providers that want to make their training materials available to the neuroscience community-at-large, as well as integrate their content into the larger TrainingSpace ecosystem.

The Development of a Virtual World Problem-Based Learning Tutorial and Comparison With Interactive Text-Based Tutorials.

Collaborative learning through case-based or problem-based learning (PBL) scenarios is an excellent way to acquire and develop workplace knowledge associated with specific competencies. At St George's, University of London we developed an interactive online form of decision-based PBL (D-PBL) for our undergraduate medical course using web-based virtual patients (VPs). This method of delivery allowed students to consider options for clinical management, to take decisions and to explore the consequences of their chosen actions. Students had identified this as a more engaging type of learning activity compared to conventional paper-based/linear PBL and demonstrated improved exam performance in controlled trials. We explored the use of Second Life (SL), a virtual world and immersive 3D environment, as a tool to provide greater realism than our interactive image and text-based D-PBL patient cases. Eighteen separate tutorial groups were provided with their own experience of the same patient scenario in separate locations within the virtual world. The study found that whilst a minority of students reported that the Second Life experience felt more realistic, most did not. Students favored the simpler interaction of the web-based VPs, which already provided them with the essential learning needed for practice. This was in part due to the time proximity to exams and the extra effort required to learn the virtual world interface. Nevertheless, this study points the way towards a scalable process for running separate PBL sessions in 3D environments.

Academic Integrity Education Across the Canadian Higher Education Landscape.

The purpose of this article is to understand how academic integrity educational tutorials are administered across Canadian higher education. Results are shared from a survey of publicly funded Canadian higher education institutions (N = 74), including universities (n = 41) and colleges (n = 33), across ten provinces where English is the primary language of instruction. The survey contained 29 items addressing institutional demographic details, as well as academic integrity education questions. Results showed that academic integrity tutorials are inconsistent across Canadian higher education, with further differences evident within the university and college sectors. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10805-021-09412-6.

A heutagogical interactive tutorial involving Fishbowl with Fish Battle and Round Robin Brainstorming: A novel syndicate metacognitive learning strategy.

BACKGROUND: The increasing tutorial size poses every teacher with the problem of student attention and participation; hence, newer strategies are needed to engage adult learners into cooperative learning. This study aims to assess the knowledge gained and retained and perceptions of students using an interactive syndicate learning style tutorial vis-a-vis conventional tutorials. METHODS: A quasi-experimental crossover study was conducted wherein students of phase 1 MBBS physiology tutorials were divided into two batches (interactive tutorials involving learning Fishbowl with Fish Battle and Round Robin Brainstorming and conventional didactic tutorials), with 65 students in each over 3 days. In the interactive tutorial group, students were seated in 2 concentric circles, the inner circle engaged in Fish Battle (a seminar followed by rebuttal), whereas the remaining students belonged to the Round Robin Brainstorming (outer circle) group, wherein brainstorming using index cards was carried out and a mind map was prepared, followed by a summary. Both batches underwent the pre- and post-MCQ test followed by the crossover study the subsequent week. For testing retention, an Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) test was conducted after 3 weeks. In the end, 5 physiology tutorial modules were completed. RESULTS: There was a statistical improvement in the post-test scores (9.7%) gain in the Interactive Tutorial (IT) group as compared with the Conventional Tutorial (CT) group. Of the students, 56% retained the topics after undergoing IT compared with CT. Around (90%) students felt improved conceptual thinking, and 92% felt it encompassed active learning. CONCLUSION: Interactive tutorials involving such learning styles facilitate active self-determined learning, develop mutual interdependence, equal representation, and group dynamics as adult learners, and transform them into lifelong critical thinkers.

Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling: Practical Guidelines and Tutorial With a Convenient Online Tool for Mplus.

Critics of positive psychology have questioned the validity of positive psychological assessment measures (PPAMs), which negatively affects the credibility and public perception of the discipline. Psychometric evaluations of PPAMs have shown that various instruments produce inconsistent factor structures between groups/contexts/times frames, that their predictive validity is questionable, and that popular PPAMs are culturally biased. Further, it would seem positive psychological researchers prioritize date-model-fit over measurement quality. To address these analytical challenges, more innovative and robust approaches toward the validation and evaluation of PPAMs are required to enhance the discipline's credibility and to advance positive psychological science. Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling (ESEM) has recently emerged as a promising alternative to overcome some of these challenges by incorporating the best elements from exploratory- and confirmatory factor analyses. ESEM is still a relatively novel approach, and estimating these models in statistical software packages can be complex and tedious. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide novice researchers with a practical tutorial on how to estimate ESEM with a convenient online tool for Mplus. Specifically, we aim to demonstrate the use of ESEM through an illustrative example by using a popular positive psychological instrument: the Mental Health Continuum-SF. By using the MHC-SF as an example, we aim to provide (a) a brief overview of ESEM (and different ESEM models/approaches), (b) guidelines for novice researchers on how to estimate, compare, report, and interpret ESEM, and (c) a step-by-step tutorial on how to run ESEM analyses in Mplus with the De Beer and Van Zy ESEM syntax generator. The results of this study highlight the value of ESEM, over and above that of traditional confirmatory factor analytical approaches. The results also have practical implications for measuring mental health with the MHC-SF, illustrating that a bifactor ESEM Model fits the data significantly better than any other theoretical model.

BrainIAK: The Brain Imaging Analysis Kit.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) offers a rich source of data for studying the neural basis of cognition. Here, we describe the Brain Imaging Analysis Kit (BrainIAK), an open-source, free Python package that provides computationally optimized solutions to key problems in advanced fMRI analysis. A variety of techniques are presently included in BrainIAK: intersubject correlation (ISC) and intersubject functional connectivity (ISFC), functional alignment via the shared response model (SRM), full correlation matrix analysis (FCMA), a Bayesian version of representational similarity analysis (BRSA), event segmentation using hidden Markov models, topographic factor analysis (TFA), inverted encoding models (IEMs), an fMRI data simulator that uses noise characteristics from real data (fmrisim), and some emerging methods. These techniques have been optimized to leverage the efficiencies of high-performance compute (HPC) clusters, and the same code can be se amlessly transferred from a laptop to a cluster. For each of the aforementioned techniques, we describe the data analysis problem that the technique is meant to solve and how it solves that problem; we also include an example Jupyter notebook for each technique and an annotated bibliography of papers that have used and/or described that technique. In addition to the sections describing various analysis techniques in BrainIAK, we have included sections describing the future applications of BrainIAK to real-time fMRI, tutorials that we have developed and shared online to facilitate learning the techniques in BrainIAK, computational innovations in BrainIAK, and how to contribute to BrainIAK. We hope that this manuscript helps readers to understand how BrainIAK might be useful in their research.