Molecular Games, a new app on teaching innovation to learn molecular biology
Molecular Games is a phone app aimed at the university students of Biology, Medicine, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, and related studies, to strengthen -in a playful manner- the concepts and actiivties they have worked on in class, as well as to get familiar with the tasks of the professional molecular biologists (acessing databases, checking scientific articles, etc.).
Molecular Games is a phone app aimed at the university students of Biology, Medicine, Pharmacy, Biomedical Sciences, and related studies, to strengthen -in a playful manner- the concepts and actiivties they have worked on in class, as well as to get familiar with the tasks of the professional molecular biologists (acessing databases, checking scientific articles, etc.).
Launched by the Department of Biomedicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona, this app consists on a series of tests in a format that may remind us to a secret game, which the students have to solve through their knowledge on molecular biology. This first edition includes four games focused on a specific human gene they have to discover. At the end of the game, they will also find a specific mutation which has serious effects on the human health.
"This is a fun way to learn about the structure and function of the DNA”, notes Josep Saura, lecturer from the Department of Biomedicine and one of the launchers of this teaching innovation tool.
The app is in English and it is available for Android (4.1 and following ones) and iOS (9.0 and following ones) systems and has the support from the program on Researh, Improvement and Innovation on Teaching and Learning (RIMDA) from the Vice-rectorʼs Office of Teaching and Academic Planning of the UB.