One of the most important skills for molecular biology students upon entering the workforce is their ability to problem solve. From answering research questions to diagnosing and troubleshooting, learning to interpret data and draw pertinent conclusions is essential for scientists.
In the last decade, we devised a series of laboratory experiences during which students extract RNA from their own cells, retro-transcribe it, design expression specific primers for a house-keeping transcript using tools freely available online, perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplicon purification and quantification, serial dilutions of the amplicon to prepare real-time-PCR standards, run real-time PCR experiments, and finally analyze their data. To maximize student engagement and discussion during the labs, each module is weaved though with a gaming experience awarding students points for answering questions by themselves or as part of a team.
During the pandemic, the curriculum was adapted to run online as a simulation.
The gamification approach significantly increased student participation, both online and on ground, and it also increased camaraderie on ground. The discussion-focused report made a significant difference in student understanding; 85% of the students, as compared to 40% with a regular lab report, where able to draw pertinent conclusions from their dataset pinpointing errors to one or more of the following: standard preparation, addition of standards to the plate, inconsistent pipetting, or contamination.
The robust laboratory modules described here have been improved for the past decade and can be adapted to study any gene of interest.
