A Problem Based Approach To Teaching Cell And Molecular Biology To Engineers

Teaching the biological sciences to engineers presents special problems. These include stylistic differences in teaching biology versus engineering, diverse educational backgrounds, and a comparative lack of quantitative theories and expressions in molecular biology. Transitioning students from a problem-based style of education to a knowledge-based style can prove particularly difficult in terms of student learning, engagement and testing. Indeed, one must ask whether teaching biology as biologists do is the most effective way to convey the material, or if it is more effective to adapt the teaching style and biological content to engineers?