Introduction to learning design case studies

This week, we will be looking at a series of case studies which should help to guide you in designing your own course

When designing genomics training, it is important to identify the target audience and to create a programme pitched at the appropriate level to achieve the learning outcomes.

Furthermore, it is best practice where possible, to use a pre-course survey to establish the background knowledge, levels of experience and learning goals of prospective participants. In order to increase trainee engagement, instructors can also consider presenting data and examples that relate to learners’ research interests, for example, by using sample datasets from relevant studies. Together, this allows tailoring of course materials, and, where necessary, it also provides pre-course exercises or other online resources prior to the course.

In this week, you will hear a series of case studies, in which expert trainers present their experience in designing and delivering training courses in Genomics and Bioinformatics.

Step 2.4 presents a Case study on Train the trainer courses, in which Prof. David Aanensen (Big Data Institute Oxford) gives the big picture and importance of training expert scientists to train others using train the trainer approaches.

Next, in Step 2.6, you will hear from Dr Segun Fatumo (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute), who will present a Case study on designing a Statistical genetics course.

In Step 2.8 you will hear from Dr Ben Moore (EMBL-EBI), on how he adapted a general workshop framework to create a tailored course for a specialist audience, in a Case study on the Ensembl Genome browser

Mihir Kekre (Centre for Genomic Pathogen Surveillance) discusses how he overcame challenges he encountered when training an international cohort of bioinformaticians and wet laboratory scientists to work together in genomic surveillance of antimicrobial resistance, in Step 2.14 – Case study on Genomic Epidemiology.

Lastly, Dr Nicole Wheeler (University of Birmingham) discusses how she adapted her training materials to make them appealing to Computer Scientists and how she evaluated a short training course using online methods in Step 2.19 – Case study on Machine Learning applied in Genomics.