Student-centered education is in the air. It is present in many reform agendas for higher education across every discipline and is shortlisted as an important goal for teaching and learning in many reports and recommendations of professional agencies and scientific societies. There is wide consensus that moving from teacher-centered to…

Several contributions in "Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education" have highlighted the role of visualization tools and the importance of developing students' visual literacy in biochemistry education. In this forum, the authors suggest that more focus is needed on the assessment of student learning, and they advance…

The importance of posing the best questions in research studies in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) is undisputed. Researchers may spend long hours reflecting and discussing with colleagues how to improve a certain question they have in mind. The best questions are always original, grounded in the existing literature and feasible to be…

The ultimate goal of "student-centered" education is to empower students to learn beyond educational programs. This means nurturing students' autonomy and fostering the development of their own motivation and mechanisms to become self-directed learners. This idea has been embodied in the "lifelong learning" mantra that pervades contemporary views…

In addition to knowledge and technical or reasoning skills, students need to develop a real and honest sense of professional integrity in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB). Knowledge and reasoning, technical skills, behavior and conduct are the five ingredients. Each ingredient is essential, no ingredient is less important than the others.…

Many students struggle to interconnect biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) contents taught in separate classes or to relate BMB to what they learn in other courses. Such students lack the necessary perspective to perceive the intradisciplinary and interdisciplinary "bonds" of BMB. In other words used before in this journal, they are unable to…

The biochemistry and molecular biology of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is difficult to convey to students in a classroom setting in ways that capture their interest. The understanding of the matrix's roles in physiological and pathological conditions study will presumably be hampered by insufficient knowledge of its molecular structure.…

Laboratory exercises (labs) are sometimes regarded as dispensable in biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) education for various reasons including a combination of increased class costs and small budget allocations, pressing demands for more time to lecture to fit in new BMB discoveries within constant time span of courses, and the fact that…

As teaching becomes more "student-centered"--i.e. considers the learning needs and interests of students--it is likely that students will be more committed and, thus, better able to process the materials and, ultimately, learn more Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB). Unfortunately, BMB teaching proceeds largely unaware--or in disregard--of…

Presents a method aimed at developing the ability of students to handle information, participate in group discussions, and accept and give constructive criticism. Involves synthesizing information in poster handouts and taking part in a student-centered assessment. Evaluates through an objective scoring strategy that leads to the identification of…