Meetings & Events
Breaking the mold: Exploring AI tools and alternative assessments in BMB education
Oct. 19, 2024
ASBMB Catalyst Conversations are informal events at which educators share their still-in-development teaching practices and classroom activities. Presenters of short “chalk talks” get immediate feedback.
Keynote speaker
You know more about your lab than ChatGPT: Assignments introducing chemistry students to AI tools
Emily Ruff
Associate professor, Winona State University
Artificial intelligence tools can assist with proofreading, brainstorming and some research tasks, but their use comes with drawbacks. How can instructors introduce students to these tools and use them constructively in the classroom? In this talk I will provide a brief introduction to generative artificial intelligence tools and describe assignments in which our undergraduate students have applied and evaluated them in chemistry courses.
Emily Ruff is an associate professor of biochemistry at Winona State University. In the lab she investigates the structure and function of kinases, PET hydrolases and other enzymes using kinetics, site-directed mutagenesis and other methods. She also develops and assesses assignments that introduce students to AI tools and how they are used in the field.
Session 1
Moderators: Aswathy Rai & Tayo Odunuga
- Exploring generative AI for question writing, grading and interactive practice in biochemistry education
Ning Sui, North Carolina State University at Raleigh - Leveraging AI to develop and standardize rubrics for comparative grading in physical chemistry
Brian Barngrover, Stephen F. Austin State University - Embracing AI in biochemistry education: Tools for course content creation, assessment and feedback
Djamali Muhoza, University of Arkansas at Monticello - Navigating the age of AI: My experience with AI in the computer science classroom
Jeremy Becnel, Stephen F. Austin State University
Session 2
Moderators: Tayo Odunuga & Melanie Van Stry
- Leveraging AI to support executive function and foster creativity in BMB education
Christin Monroe, Landmark College - De novo vs. crystal structure: 偷拍偷窥 docking comparisons by undergraduate researchers
Josh Beckham, University of Texas at Austin - Designing an AI-based model to predict and detect the role of DNA-aptamer templated silver nanoclusters against microbial biofilm
Bidisha Sengupta, Stephen F. Austin State University - Leveraging the power of AI in reflective assignments as a part of alternative assessments
Didem Vardar Ulu, Boston University
Organizers
Melanie Van Stry
Professor, Lane College
Aswathy Rai
Assistant teaching professor, Mississippi State University
Odutayo Odunuga
Professor, Stephen F. Austin State University
Workshop aims
- Facilitate faculty sharing of best practices in biochemistry and molecular biology laboratory and/or classroom activities to strengthen undergraduate education
- Enhance and broaden the network of undergraduate faculty and ASBMB student chapter advisers with interests in exploring new teaching strategies
- Facilitate participants’ understanding of AI tools in higher education
Who should watch
- Primarily undergraduate faculty
- Postdocs and graduate students
- Anyone interested in sharing how AI tools can be explored in higher education