Benjamin Moore
I am the Ensembl Outreach Project Leader based at EMBL-EBI. I co-ordinate the Ensembl training programme and provide support to scientists using the Ensembl genome browsers and APIs.
Location United Kingdom
Activity
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I agree with point you made that tailoring materials can be laborious. Perhaps the best solution is to have a 'modular' course design and a bank of different examples, case studies and exercises that can be switched in and out depending on the audience?
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I think that this is a great point- a varied set of activities to help all trainees reach the learning objectives is the most preferable option in my opinion
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This is also tricky as many bioinformatics/genomics tools and resources are presented in English
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A very good point. The benefits and challenges of different trainign formats will be explored later in the course.
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We regularly do this for our courses and the information received from the pre-course survey is so valuable in understanding the trainees areas of interest and learning goals.
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Benjamin Moore replied to Milcah Dhoro
This is an important consideration when designing the course, Milcah. Will you run the course with an application process with selection, or will the trainees register on a first-come-first-served basis? Open application with selection can help you to deliver a course to an audience that is likely to benefit from the scope of the topics being taught, but comes...
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I agree, Andrew. Differentiating the competency required for people in different roles is a very important skill!
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It's great that you were able to adapt your materials for the yeast community, Andrew. Working with experts to find relevant examples and datasets can be really helpful, especially if you are not familiar with the field yourself!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Niamh Ryan
I agree, Niamh. I think it's about balancing foundational topics/concepts with the more up-to-date (and perhaps exciting and relevant) topics.
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Benjamin Moore replied to Shweta Kuba
I fully agree!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Niamh Ryan
It's great to hear that the course is giving you the opportunity to reflect on your course design, Naimh. I would say that there isn't a 'correct' answer and that different formats all have their own benefits and challenges. The trick is harnessing the benefits and using tools/techniques to overcome the challenges!
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Benjamin Moore replied to chaima hkimi
I like that your hybrid courses consisted of wholly virtual or wholly in-person sessions. As a trainer, I tend to find hybrid sessions, where some trainees attend virtually and others in-person, are difficult to manage
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Benjamin Moore replied to Nadia BiBi
This sounds like a very well designed session!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Guido KONIG
I fully agree! There are some general learning principles that we can apply but all trainees will have different personal motivations
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I fully agree. The relevance and practicality points you raised are especially true when considering that PhD students and postdocs are more likely to have on-going projects where the skills/knowledge can be applied
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It's not always easy for the trainer to control the amount of time that they have for a particular session, but short sessions can be much more effective to pass on a single learning objective.
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A Whatsapp group is a good idea although I appreciate that some people use it more for their personal interactions so may want to maintain their boundaries and keep any messages separate. Slack groups are another good communication tool to consider.
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I agree- organic interactions are extremely valuable and 'forced' engagement can become awkward. As you say, it's about providing the opportunities and environment for those organic interactions to occur. This is even more difficult in virtual settings....
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Being flexible as a trainer and being able to see fi particular conversations or topics are stimulating for the trainees (and then following their interests) is a really important skill!
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As a trainer, sometimes you have control over the layout of the room and sometimes you don't. But you can always ask yourself what you can do to make the layout of the classroom as effective as possible. Moving around the classroom? Breaking into smaller groups?
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Sounds like a great activity!
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I think being 'under-ambitious' when designing a course and creating learning objectives is actually important. There is a tendency to cram too much material into the time available and the quality of the training session is compromised as a result. It's better to cover a few topics well than rush through lots of topics!
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A knowledgeable, passionate and enthusiastic trainer can really make the difference!
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I love that the trainers and trainees were so relaxed with each other. A positive learning environment like this allows the trainees to ask questions and explore the concepts freely. And also, as you say, networking is a really important part of training!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Davina Burelevu
I agree that having such a heterogeneous is a challenge but having such a diverse range of knowledge and skills in the classroom must make for interesting discussions/ideas coming from the class!
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I like the idea of drop-in sessions but I think it's important to have the questions submitted ahead of time, as you are doing. This helps the trainer gather the relevant resources/people to answer the question comprehensively!
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I like the step of asking the trainees what they want to learn. I find this particularly useful for PhD student and postdoc groups as they are likely to have a project or task to which they want to apply their new knowledge.
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The Living Doc is such a great tool and we have widely adopted it for all of our virtual workshops. Attention should also be paid to the access and longevity of these documents- how long do you want people to have continued access to the document?
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I definitely agree. Also, depending on the activity, I think having a 'model' answer/dataset/sample that can be carried forward into the remainder of the activity is useful to allow participants to continue the work without being hampered by issues in the upstream process
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I like that you've considered the inverse, Pia. I think this is why using Bloom's taxonomy when developing learning objectives is really useful. What level of skill does someone in a particular role/job need to achieve?
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I don't think there is a golden rule, but making sure that you have an appropriate ratio between trainers and trainees (depending on topic, activity, class size, location, format) is important. Generally, more trainees means trainers are less able to deliver individual support
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Integrating the theory and practical aspects of a course can also be a good way to 'break up' the sessions and motivate the trainees
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Being able to respond to the learners during the training is a valuable skill and can take the form of formalised short feedback polls as the course progresses (also a good way to integrate interaction) but can also be judged less formally by 'reading the room'. Are people listening/engaging? Do the learners seem enthusiastic?
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I like these ideas. When deciding on how to make materials available after the course, it's important to think about FAIR. Are they Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable? Using personal DropBox accounts could mean that links expire, for example. Are there any better places to put materials after the course?
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Benjamin Moore replied to Saqlain Raza
I agree Saqlain - it's very easy to fall into comfortable habits and formats when teaching. These should always be re-evaluated and improved to meet evolving needs and challenges.
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Benjamin Moore replied to Paul Harrison
A hybrid workshop is a great format for reaching both in-person and virtual participants simultaneously. In my experience, it can be tricky for a trainer to devote equal time and attention to both in-person and virtual trainees. I think it can work, but needs very careful planning and organisation to ensure everyone is engaged.
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Understanding the challenges for delivering training for a specific audience is important in being able to create realistic and achievable learning objectives. Providing pre-course material can be really useful to ensure that there is a similar starting point for all trainees.
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I agree with this 100% and a great trainer will always be flexible in their approach and attempt to connect with trainees on a level that allows them to learn in their own way.
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18+ is a huge range as well! There could well be important generational differences with knowledge, exposure to different technologies and concepts
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That's a great point. The ideas and concepts here are generalised and a trainer should always be empathetic to the different learning styles of individuals.
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100% - it is sometimes difficult to balance covering the 'latest and greatest' with the core concepts and background!
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There are definitely teachers whose passion and enthusiasm have left a lasting impression on me! Discussions are such a useful tool for consolidating learning, though it is important to create a safe and positive environment where everyone feels that they can contribute.
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Benjamin Moore replied to Saqlain Raza
On-demand online courses are definitely a useful resource that provides flexibility for trainees to learn at their own pace in their own time and in an environment comfortable to them. I applaud your efforts to make freely available online courses that benefit the community.
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I've never taught children specifically (although my partner is a teacher and I've bene involve din public engagement events) but I definitely agree with you on these points!
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Considerations of infrastructure and resources are so important when designing bioinformatics training!
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When delivering a talk, creating a story can really help trainees follow your thought process and makes the material 'come alive'. I can definitely remember some great lectures I attended like this!
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I definitely agree, Philip! The problem that I have encountered with the flipped classroom model is ensuring that all of the trainees have gone through the provided learning material. Trainees may fall behind and final to grasp more advanced concepts if you design a live learning session that builds on materials that were covered offline. It would be...
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Benjamin Moore replied to Andrew Beazer
For sure, maintaining engagement throughout live virtual courses is a great challenge. It's great that you've already thought about methods you can use to improve interaction during these courses.
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This is a great point. As someone who uses English as their first language, it's sometimes difficult to appreciate the translating that trainees have to do in their heads during a workshop. I've also come to appreciate that someone may be more comfortable listening to a presentation in English but less comfortable speaking or reading English. I always try to...
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I definitely agree with this observation, Saqlain. As a trainer, I think we can always reflect on how we can create a supportive learning environment that promotes interaction even further beyond asking if there are any questions (especially for the more shy trainees).
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Benjamin Moore replied to Saqlain Raza
I agree with everything here, Saqlain, and think you have some really clear ideas. For the 'readiness to learn' I would also say that in my experience I have found teaching adults can be tricky as they have strongly held pre-conceived ideas and concepts which can make it difficult to learn new material.
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I agree, Koffi. I often like to use this 'reflective' method of teaching during my own training events.
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I think experiencing and identifying some of the less useful elements of training can also help us to develop our own skills for designing and delivering training.
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This is a great idea, Saqlain. Doing something a bit different and out of the ordinary is great for increasing engagement with the trainees.
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I agree - understanding the audience and then identifying key learning gaps and learning objectives is really important. We'll learn more about this further on in the course.
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I agree, Sandra. Having a good balance between theoretical and practical activities is important. Being empathetic and passionate are also really important qualities of a trainer, I think.
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I agree that a hybrid approach can be an effective training format. However, in my experience, I've also found that hybrid sessions can be difficult for trainers to lead, especially in making sure that they devote enough time and attention to both in-person and virtual trainees.
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Cultural differences can definitely play an important role in the trainer-trainee relationship! As a trainer, it's always important to keep this at the front of your mind when teaching!
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In my experience, fear of being wrong can definitely de-motivate some learners. I find the best way is to create a positive learning environment where people feel supported to share ideas is the best way to overcome this challenge.
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I think there is sometimes a temptation to think that these sort of 'games' are only useful for teaching children in schools, but your example shows us that doing something like this can be a great activity to include in classes of all ages.
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+1 for peer-to-peer learning! It was great that you were able to set these sessions up yourselves as explaining concepts also helps to consolidate your own learning!
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I definitely agree about the benefits in terms of engagement and interaction for face-to-face training. Virtual training has it's own benefits, for sure, but face-to-face training is great especially for laboratory based training!
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This is a great point, Mariane. The benefits and challenges of virtual training are important to consider when designing training format, content and activities.
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Absolutely, Steve! I like the metaphor of building a house when creating a presentation. Laying foundations and building up a linked story is a great tool that allows trainees to follow your thought processes during a presentation.
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I agree, Sayed. Continual 'micro' feedback during a workshop is a great tool that trainers can use to increase engagement with trainees and ensure that the group has understood particular topics/concepts.
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I agree Corrado! Case studies are a great tool for enhancing the practical aspects of a workshop to make them more interesting/relevant. However, identifying suitable case studies that are general enough to be interesting to a diverse group of students, yet specific enough to be interesting is a delicate balance!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Sophie S
This is a great example, Sophie! Consolidating new material with peer-to-peer discussions is always helpful. Being able to explain something, perhaps to your classmate, is a great test of understanding!
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Hi Vladimir - I definitely agree and I think I fall into a similar 'learning by doing' category to you but when designing training events, it's important to remember that there will also be a group of people that find it preferable to cover the theoretical aspects of a topic before trying things out for themselves. It's always about trying to get a good...
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Hi Sinead- such a great example! I haven't run many courses that integrate debates, but it's so important to actively question assumptions and think deeply about alternative views/options.
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Hi William- thank you for sharing the details of this training event you attended. I think you've already identified a number of key themes/ideas that will be discussed throughout this course - real-life practical examples, hands-on learning and group-based discussions are all important elements that can augment the learning experience for participants that...
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Benjamin Moore made a comment
I have loved reading about all of the different stories of positive and memorable classes that you have attended. The thing that stands out to me is that I may have attended 100s (maybe 1000's?) of lectures/classes throughout my higher education but there are only handful that really stick in my mind many years later. I've always thought about the passion and...
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Being aware of your own unconscious biases are definitely important when planning and delivering training!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Karen Wade
Being aware of your own unconscious biases are definitely important when planning and delivering training!
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Benjamin Moore replied to Aneth David
This sounds like a tricky situation to navigate, Aneth. If I were in your situation, I would try to think of a single key learning objective that I wanted to focus on within that session and try to embed a focussed and short activity on that learning objective within the rest of the course. Something like a poll with a couple of questions where students answer...
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I definitely agree, Aneth. Trainers must find a balance between adhering to learning systems and environments that the students are familiar and comfortable with, while also trying to improve and innovate. I think the sections of this course that focus on feedback are particularly relevant to this idea!
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Time management is definitely a skill that trainers need to develop, Nante! Going too fast or slow, or getting side tracked by discussions can impact on how much material can be effectively covered. Having said that, discussions are a great way of engaging the audience and talking about the topic through the lens of their own interests, so it's important to...
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This is an issue that I have faced when delivering training on many occasions, Karen. I think the best thing to do in this case is to try to cover less material in a fixed time and focus on 1 or 2 key learning objectives. Of course, when the scope and content of the course is pre-defined, good course design is really important. Innovating with formats such as...
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It's great that you have this level of self-awareness, Giulia. As you say, active learning is extremely effective and so as a trainer, your goal should be, by being empathetic towards the different learning styles and personalities, to create a positive learning environment where everyone feels comfortable to contribute in their own way
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I think you're exactly right, Nicole. Bioinformatics is such a broad field with applications in so many different branches of science, that sometimes the existing bioinformatics training and courses are not relevant to a particular audience. Tailoring courses so that general concepts are explored through the lens of suitable examples and datasets can make the...
