Opinions

Essay
Christian Abosede and Amanda Haage
May 8, 2026
Instructors explore how gamification and active learning transform student engagement and retention. They convey how emotion, interaction and design can make even rigorous subjects more effective and memorable.
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Mentorship and uncertainty: Lessons from Telemachus
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Mentorship and uncertainty: Lessons from Telemachus

April 30, 2026

A biochemistry educator reflects on mentorship through the Greek story of Telemachus, showing how embracing uncertainty, failure and curiosity can transform teaching.

Embracing the twists and turns along the educator pathway
Essay

Embracing the twists and turns along the educator pathway

April 30, 2026

A biochemistry educator reflects on the challenges of early faculty life, describing how evidence-based teaching, cross-disciplinary collaboration and classroom challenges shaped her growth.

Redesigning with students in mind
Essay

Redesigning with students in mind

April 29, 2026

Assistant professor reflects on how the shift to online teaching revealed gaps in points-based grading and led to a redesign centered on transparency and student growth.

Teaching beyond information transfer
Essay

Teaching beyond information transfer

April 29, 2026

Educator reflects on moving beyond lectures to create a biochemistry classroom centered on engagement, transparency and student ownership, showing how small shifts like “student hours” and active learning can transform understanding.

Mayday! Lessons from cellular dysfunction and group work dynamics
Essay

Mayday! Lessons from cellular dysfunction and group work dynamics

April 28, 2026

An upper-level biology course revealed that strong science doesn’t guarantee strong teamwork. One instructor shares how failed group dynamics reshaped their approach, leading to more structured, collaborative and effective student learning.

Showing students that it’s OK to ask questions
Essay

Showing students that it’s OK to ask questions

April 28, 2026

Assistant professor reflects on how admitting uncertainty and following student questions beyond the syllabus reshaped classroom culture, encouraging curiosity, vulnerability and deeper engagement in introductory biology.

Essay

Evolving the undergraduate biochemistry lab

Biochemistry professor reflects on 25 years of teaching lab courses, tracing the shift from technique-driven exercises to CUREs, course-based undergraduate research experiences, collaboration and computational tools that bring authentic research into undergraduate classrooms.
Evolving the undergraduate biochemistry lab

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Promoting positive values in biochemistry classes
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Promoting positive values in biochemistry classes

April 24, 2026

Associate professor integrates emotional awareness and values-based learning into biochemistry courses, helping students improve both academic performance and long-term personal growth.

Timeless reflections on mentorship and teaching
Essay

Timeless reflections on mentorship and teaching

April 23, 2026

Professor at a primarily undergraduate university reflects on how mentorship remains the heart of education, while technology changes how content is delivered and students connect with material and instructors.

When AI replaces confidence in the classroom
Essay

When AI replaces confidence in the classroom

April 22, 2026

After students relied on AI for writing assignments, one molecular biology instructor reframed the issue as a confidence gap and implemented a collaborative assignment to foster scientific reasoning and authentic engagement at an HBCU.

“Hi, profe!” How I learned to connect with my students
Essay

“Hi, profe!” How I learned to connect with my students

April 22, 2026

After critical course evaluations, a biochemistry instructor reflects on how sharing her story and building relationships transformed her classroom, helping students feel seen, welcomed and more connected to science.

Teaching an evolving field: Lessons from mosquitos
Essay

Teaching an evolving field: Lessons from mosquitos

April 17, 2026

Professor explores how adapting teaching to new technologies and student needs can deepen learning.

Flipping the script to build student confidence through empathy
Essay

Flipping the script to build student confidence through empathy

April 17, 2026

Educator reexamines her approach to an introductory biochemistry course, showing how affirmation and intentional support reshaped student engagement and persistence.

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