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: Molecular 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