Effectiveness of a novel e-learning environment for learning applied clinical biochemistry

Abstract

Comprehensive developments were carried out in the virtual environment e-Biology© (http://parasitology.dmu.ac.uk/ebiology/) to help with the on-line delivery of the final year BSc Biomedical Science module of Clinical Biochemistry at De Montfort University (DMU, UK) in 2020/21. To provide a holistic education around human biology, e-Biology© has four interactive modules: i) theoretical; ii) laboratory; iii) microscope; and iv) case studies. The recent developments undertaken to help with the applied teaching of clinical biochemistry includes: two practicals (identifying disease using urinalysis and competitive ELISA for human biomonitoring of nicotine exposure), and specific case studies. 65.2% and 57.8% students (n=46/166) highlighted that they learnt to perform both practicals for clinical biochemistry diagnosis, urinalysis and ELISA, respectively. However, similar percentages were observed about the preference of students regarding the delivery of the practicals, face-to-face (43.5%) vs. on-line (43.4%). Following the completion of the virtual case studies, 82.6% of responders indicated learning of specific tests for diagnosing kidney pathologies. Most responders considered that the overall e-Biology© helped with their study of Clinical Biochemistry, and enhanced their learning and reasoning of applied Clinical Biochemistry. In conclusion, the novel package was an effective resource for the virtual teaching of Clinical Biochemistry due to the COVID-19 pandemic.