• Wellcome Connecting Science

Train the Trainer: Design Genomics and Bioinformatics Training

4.7 (22 reviews)

Discover how to plan and design engaging learning for those wanting to generate and analyse genomic data.

5,648 enrolled on this course

Learners design a course

  • Duration

    3 weeks

  • Weekly study

    5 hours

  • 100% online

    How it works

  • Digital upgrade

    Free
Overview
Syllabus
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Explore techniques for genomics training.

Genomics and bioinformatics is a growing area of research with important practical implications for sectors as diverse as healthcare, food production, and environmental research.

On this course, you’ll learn how to train students, peers, professionals, and future experts in genomic techniques, and come away able to plan and design engaging lessons for adult learners.

Explore adult learning theory and principles

Alongside expert genomics educators, you’ll discuss adult learning theory, and discover how an active, learner-centred approach can guide good course design.

You’ll be equipped with general good practice teaching techniques, as well as the educational methods commonly used to teach laboratory workflows and bioinformatics in genomics.

Build and develop your training skills

The course will show you how to create learning experiences from subject content, and the importance of communication, group work, and facilitation in teaching and training.

You’ll identify common educational methods used to teach, and assess the bioinformatics and laboratory methods required for genomics.

Learn practical genomics training skills

The course will culminate in you making a peer-reviewed project, where you’ll design your own genomics training plan, and reflect on how you can receive feedback and improve as a trainer.

You’ll come away able to confidently plan and design courses on how to generate and analyse genomic data.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 0 seconds [SOUND EFFECT]

Skip to 0 minutes and 7 seconds Welcome to Training The Trainer, Design Genomics and Bioinformatics training. This course integrates general teaching and learning principles with specific discipline contexts to enable you to become a more effective trainer in genomics and bioinformatics. You already have experience in genomics or bioinformatics. You will learn common educational theories and how to apply them in practise. The course will provide you with skills to develop impactful training in your area of expertise. In week one, you will hear about how adults learn. We’ll introduce general course design principles and discuss the different elements of course design including your specific course context and your objectives and the assessments needed to achieve your defined learning outcomes.

Skip to 0 minutes and 53 seconds In week two, this will be discussed further in a series of relevant case studies. You will hear from experienced trainers in genomics and bioinformatics on how they design courses in their disciplines. These interviews will enable you to observe and reflect on different training techniques and help you think about your own context. In week three, you will have a chance to apply your learning through hands-on design on the module of your choice. You will receive feedback from your fellow learners. And you can peer review their work too. We hope you will enjoy the course.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    Introducing Learning & Teaching theories and practice

    • Introduction

      The course starts with a welcome, introduces educators, outlines the next three weeks, and includes a glossary. A video welcomes learners to Week 1, while discussions centre on memories and habits to foster learners' reflection.

    • Active learning

      This activity includes a poll on trainer types and an article on how people learn. Discussions cover pedagogy versus andragogy, and challenges in active learning, complemented by an article detailing effective teaching strategies.

    • Teaching practice and course facilitation

      This activity features a video interview with Dr. Sarah Morgan on designing bioinformatics training. An article discusses learning formats, while discussions focus on the online context, group dynamics and facilitation.

    • Designing and developing a high quality training course

      Course design models are introduced with an article on outcome-driven training. A poll invites opinions on this design, followed by articles on writing learning outcomes, key course design elements and training evaluation.

    • End of week 1

      This activity concludes the week with a course design checklist and a quiz to assess understanding so far. A final article summarises Week 1, reinforcing key concepts and insights gained throughout the content.

  • Week 2

    Case Studies: Course Design for Genomics and Bioinformatics Training

    • Introduction

      Week 2 opens with a welcome video, followed by an article introducing learning design case studies. Another article provides an overview of the upcoming Week 3 project, setting the stage for deeper exploration and application.

    • Defining goals and course planning

      Opens with a case study on Train the Trainer courses, discusses planning considerations and resource management. A video explores designing a statistical genetics course, ending with an article on competency based course design.

    • Course Design: tailoring course content to match the audience interests

      This activity covers the essentials of tailoring bioinformatics training for diverse audiences, focusing on relevant, practical, applicable training. It ends with a discussion about the genomic epidemiology course.

    • Designing activities and training resources

      Focusing on designing effective training activities for lab genomics and bioinformatics, creating course materials, and integrating online tools. It includes insights from Nicole Wheeler's machine learning case study.

    • Delivery and Evaluation

      This course section focuses on effective course delivery techniques and evaluating the impact of training to ensure it meets the defined goals.

    • Summary of Week 2

      This activity wraps up with a quiz to assess learning progress and a summary of key insights covered in Week 2, reinforcing the importance of adaptable, impactful training.

  • Week 3

    Peer Review Project: Design Your Own Course

    • Introduction

      Week 3 begins with a welcome and a two-part interview with Dr. Verena Ras, followed by guidance on designing a short course or module, emphasizing peer feedback for improvement.

    • Design a module or short course

      This activity guides participants through designing a course, defining learning outcomes, setting objectives, planning assessments, and organising delivery and evaluation strategies for effective learning experiences.

    • Introduction to Peer Review

      This part highlights the value of peer review and rubric use, discussing essential assessment criteria and offering a suggested rubric. It also explains the peer review process on the FL platform.

    • Peer Review Project: Submit Your Own Design for Review and Review Other Learner's Design

      This activity includes completing a peer review assignment, tips on giving and receiving feedback, a review phase, and reflections on the assignment and the peer review experience to deepen learning and reflective skills.

    • Summary of Week 3

      Week 3 concludes with a summary, a test on course material, a self-assessment poll on trainer type, and a resource list. Final notes offer next steps and acknowledgments, rounding off the learning journey.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Discuss adult learning theory and illustrate how an active, learner centred approach guides course design
  • Apply good practice learning and teaching skills of communication, group work and facilitation
  • Identify opportunities for creating learning experiences from subject content
  • Plan and design learning for a selected audience encompassing aspects of generation and analysis of genomic data, suitable for own context and environment
  • Evaluate and reflect on learning design and identify areas for improvement using peer review feedback

Who is the course for?

This course is for people who want to train students, peers, professionals, and future experts in genomics techniques. It will focus on practical skills for teaching adults as well as educational theory.

Learners are assumed to have knowledge of laboratory or bioinformatics techniques relevant to genomics. No prior knowledge of teaching, training or educational theory is assumed. There are no formal prerequisites.

What do people say about this course?

excellent job of meeting the need for bioinformatics education

"‘The need for bioinformatics education in the life sciences far exceeds the trained instructor pool … this course does an excellent job of defining and meeting that need’"

Russell Schwartz, Professor and Head, Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University

Who will you learn with?

Rachel Berkson

Education Manager at Wellcome Connecting Science, UK. Background in cancer genetics then education. Particularly interested in inclusive education.

Dusanka Nikolic

As an Education developer at the Wellcome Connecting Science, specialised in application of ICT in education, I work on design and development of online courses.

Monica Abrudan

Monica Abrudan is a Senior Science Officer at ELIXIR Hub. In her previous role at the University of Oxford, she designed and delivered courses in bioinformatics and digital epidemiology.

Alice Matimba

Alice Matimba manages the organisation and development of training in genomics and bioinformatics training for researchers and healthcare professionals in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Benjamin Moore

I am a Scientist Educator Lead for the NHS East Genomic Laboratory Hub (GLH), coordinating the education and training of the genomics workforce in the diagnostic genomics laboratories.

Who developed the course?

Wellcome Connecting Science

Wellcome Connecting Science develops and delivers open postgraduates courses and conferences focused on biomedicine.

What's included?

Wellcome Connecting Science are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Tests to validate your learning
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible

    • Learning on FutureLearn

    Your learning, your rules

    • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
    • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
    • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

    Join a global classroom

    • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
    • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
    • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

    Map your progress

    • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
    • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
    • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

    Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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