Andreas Kakarougkas is an Assistant Professor of cell and molecular biology at American University in Cairo, who earned his Ph.D at the University of Sussex in the UK. He is passionate about teaching and has delivered courses at all levels (introductory to graduate). Kakarougkas, whose current research focuses on the health implications of exposure to metallic nanoparticles found in air pollution., is particularly interested in applying the latest pedagogical approaches in order to enhance the learning experience of his students. He applies active learning approaches such as problem-based learning and blended learning to make his classes highly interactive. Kakarougkas aims to expand the use of online learning in the Biology department at AUC.
Andreas Kakarougkas
Blended Learning in a Flipped Biology Class for Non-Science Majors
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Blended learning is an educational approach that combines online education with traditional face-to-face instruction in the classroom. In this project, the use of online education was combined with a flipped class approach where students completed the theoretical learning online, while in-class time focused around active learning and student-centered strategies. The effectiveness of this educational approach was assessed throughout the semester by assessing student engagement, participation and performance. In addition, insights into the use of online material was gained by analysing the student interaction data from the edX platform. In order to provide an internal control for the effectiveness of this educational approach, the course included a module in which “traditional lecturing” was used. Following the completion of the course, student feedback in the form of post-semester surveys indicated that not all students prefer the blended approach, primarily due to the level of pre-class preparation that is required. However, our data shows that for all endpoints measured, students’ learning was enhanced by adopting the blended learning format. This project is part of the wider collaboration of AUC with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Abdulla Al-Ghurair Foundation for Education (AGFE), enabling AUC to become a regional hub in digital learning and education.
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