Education, Wherever We Are
Watch the FEMS Microbiology Letters Webinar featuring authors from this virtual special issue
As much of the world is practising social isolation in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities, colleges, and schools have been moving education very quickly from the lecture theatre and the teaching laboratory to the internet, whilst staff work from home, necessitating their administrative activities to be conducted online. This is not without its challenges, and we have a number of articles in the FEMS Microbiology Letters Professional Development Section that cover good practice in terms of online tools to support blended learning, and can now help educators to better negotiate what is new territory in many cases! These resources include articles on use of social media (specifically Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram) and podcasts and vodcasts, with elements of the 'flipped classroom' approach (e.g. students listen to/watch pre-recorded podcasts or vodcasts followed by participating in a live online discussion session lead by the academic). We have also included in this collection of articles one relevant to candidates who now have job interviews (or viva voce examinations) at a distance telephone, Zoom, or Skype rather than face-to-face.
Whilst we are a microbiology journal, we must stress that these educational resources are suitable for educators from most any discipline (though are particularly suited to those in the sciences), educating those from many age groups and educational levels.
This commentary describes recent developments in the use of online technologies, in particular social media and mobile devices, for teaching and learning and considers what has been gained and lost.
This commentary describes an initiative to bring national and international guest scientists to undergraduate and introductory graduate classrooms via web videoconferencing to facilitate interesting and effective research-informed teaching.
This commentary briefly outlines some of the ways social media has been used in higher education and also some of the primary concerns.
This article discusses different ways that lecture recordings can be incorporated into STEM discipline teaching, and the impact this can have on students' learning.
Twitter is strongly recommended for researchers and faculties to share and communicate science to society, enhance their visibility, and as a tool for teaching and learning.
Trends in microbiology by Twitter.
Instagram is an increasingly powerful social media tool that scientists should utilize to disseminate interest in science to an increasingly global audience.
The intent of this article is to provide tips and strategies on how to be more prepared/successful with telephone and video interviewing venues.
