Development and Implementation of a Remote Enzyme Kinetics Laboratory Exercise

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic imposed many new challenges on educational systems and increased the demand for novel strategies for effectively teaching laboratory skills without in-person instruction and without access to laboratory space, including critical specialized equipment. While this novel remote instruction modality is compatible with teaching the theory behind experimental techniques, the lack of lab activities that enable learning of laboratory skills severely limits the outcome of instruction.The COVID-19 pandemic imposed many new challenges on educational systems and increased the demand for novel strategies for effectively teaching laboratory skills without in-person instruction and without access to laboratory space, including critical specialized equipment. While this novel remote instruction modality is compatible with teaching the theory behind experimental techniques, the lack of lab activities that enable learning of laboratory skills severely limits the outcome of instruction. In order to overcome this problem and effectively supplement lectures with hands-on laboratory exercises, we developed an at-home enzyme kinetics lab that provides a safe alternative to traditional enzyme kinetics instructional labs typically performed in a laboratory setting. The combination of a simple design of the activity, accessibility of equipment used, and relatively low overall cost yields an effective exercise for teaching experimental design and basic laboratory skills remotely while providing a unique opportunity for students to learn about enzyme kinetics.