A constructivist-based proposal for bioinformatics teaching practices during lockdown

• Published in: PLoS computational biology 2021-05, Vol.17 (5), p.e1008922-e1008922
• Main Authors: Gallardo-Alba, Cristóbal, Grüning, Björn, Serrano-Solano, Beatriz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioinformatics; Biology and Life Sciences; CAI; Cognitive style; Collaborative learning; Communication; Computational biology; Computer and Information Sciences; Computer applications; Computer assisted instruction; Computer programs; Computer science; Constructivism; Constructivism (Education); Cooperative learning; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Critical thinking; Distance learning; Education; Information management; Information resources; Knowledge; Learning management systems; Medicine and Health Sciences; Metaphors; Methods; Online education; Online instruction; Pedagogy; People and Places; Qualitative research; Research and Analysis Methods; Social interaction; Social Sciences; Software; Students; Study and teaching; Teachers; Teaching
• ISSN: 1553-7358; 1553-734X; 1553-7358
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1008922

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks have caused universities all across the globe to close their campuses and forced them to initiate online teaching. This article reviews the pedagogical foundations for developing effective distance education practices, starting from the assumption that promoting autonomous thinking is an essential element to guarantee full citizenship in a democracy and for moral decision-making in situations of rapid change, which has become a pressing need in the context of a pandemic. In addition, the main obstacles related to this new context are identified, and solutions are proposed according to the existing bibliography in learning sciences.