Teaching and learning in biophotonics: Crossing the bridge between educators and students

• Published in: Journal of biophotonics Vol. 17; no. 7; pp. e202300491 - n/a
• Main Authors: Nogueira, Marcelo S., Gunther, Jacqueline E., Komolibus, Katarzyna, Ryan, Sinéad M., Murray, Brian S., Jezzini, Moises A., Kennedy, Declan, Andersson‐Engels, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA 01.07.2024; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: biomedical optics; biophotonics education; Computer simulation; Curriculum; Education; Faculty; Humans; Learning; multidisciplinary; Students; Teaching; teaching and learning; Teaching methods; tissue optics; Workshops; multidisciplinary; biophotonics education; biomedical optics; tissue optics; teaching and learning
• ISSN: 1864-063X; 1864-0648; 1864-0648
• DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202300491

As a rapidly growing field, biophotonics demonstrates an increasingly higher demand for interdisciplinary professionals and requires the implementation of a structured approach to educational and outreach activities focused on appropriate curriculum, and teaching and learning for audiences with diverse technical backgrounds and learning styles. Our study shows the main findings upon applying this approach to biophotonics workshops delivered 2 consecutive years while updating and improving learning outcomes, teaching strategies, workshop content based on student and teacher feedback. We provided resources for a variety of lecture‐based, experimental, computer simulation activities. Quality of subject matter, teaching, and overall learning was rated as “Very good” or “Good” by 88%, 76%, and 82% of students in average, respectively. Application of our teaching strategies and materials during short‐ and long‐term workshops/courses could potentially increase the interest in pursuing careers in the biophotonics field and related areas, leading to standardized approaches in designing education and outreach events across centers. Recent advances in light‐based technologies combined with increasing demand for early diagnostics and improvements in patient care are the major drivers in the expansion of the global biophotonics market with an estimated value reaching $91.3 billion by 2024. To address the growing need for interdisciplinary scientists, clinicians, and engineers, this study presents a structured approach to educational and outreach activities in biophotonics applied over two consecutive years aiming at improving the workshop design based on students' and teachers' feedback.