Tonight I watched the ASMCUE 2022 recorded session entitled “Promoting Innovative Thinking in Biotechnology.” The title caught my attention: this sounds like BIT! This session was presented by Samantha Orchard who described an assignment in a biotechnology course they teach. Orchard began by describing global challenges and the need for “innovation: inspiration, creativity, analysis, technology, development, teamwork, and success.” Orchard cited Indeed.com and the need for skills for innovative thinking including creativity, originality, problem solving, critical thinking, curiosity, collaboration, and communication. Orchard stressed that these skills often appear in course level or programmatic objectives. They spoke about shifting from “learners of existing knowledge” to “creators.” Orchard prepares students with information and then challenges them to propose a new biotechnology product. First, students need to justify the need for the product and describe existing solutions. This first step, Orchard explained, is the opportunity for realistic thinking and inspiration and creativity. In line with UDL, students have the opportunity to choose the format for their assignment. Options include paper, brochure, magazine/news article, podcast or vlog or blog, website, and even shark tank-style pitch video. Orchard has designed a rubric that has criteria addressing the justification of the need, the application of knowledge, and whether they followed the rules and showed effort. Orchard’s assignment sounds really useful and could be applied to the BIT 295 course.
