Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience

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dc.contributor.authorMaslamoney, Suresh
dc.contributor.authorDomelevo Entfellner, Jean-Baka
dc.contributor.authorGuerfali, Fatma Z
dc.contributor.authorSaunders, Colleen
dc.contributor.authorMansour Alzohairy, Ahmed
dc.contributor.authorCloete, Ruben
dc.contributor.authorMulder, Nicola
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:11:54Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:11:54Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractAfrica is not unique in its need for basic bioinformatics training for individuals from a diverse range of academic backgrounds. However, particular logistical challenges in Africa, most notably access to bioinformatics expertise and internet stability, must be addressed in order to meet this need on the continent. H3ABioNet (www.h3abionet.org), the Pan African Bioinformatics Network for H3Africa, has therefore developed an innovative, free-of-charge “Introduction to Bioinformatics” course, taking these challenges into account as part of its educational efforts to provide on-site training and develop local expertise inside its network. A multiple-delivery–mode learning model was selected for this 3-month course in order to increase access to (mostly) African, expert bioinformatics trainers. The content of the course was developed to include a range of fundamental bioinformatics topics at the introductory level. For the first iteration of the course (2016), classrooms with a total of 364 enrolled participants were hosted at 20 institutions across 10 African countries. To ensure that classroom success did not depend on stable internet, trainers pre-recorded their lectures, and classrooms downloaded and watched these locally during biweekly contact sessions. The trainers were available via video conferencing to take questions during contact sessions, as well as via online “question and discussion” forums outside of contact session time. This learning model, developed for a resource-limited setting, could easily be adapted to other settings.
dc.identifier.apacitationMaslamoney, S., Domelevo Entfellner, J., Guerfali, F. Z., Saunders, C., Mansour Alzohairy, A., Cloete, R., & Mulder, N. (2017). Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience. <i>PLoS Computational Biology</i>, 13(10), e1005715 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34707en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMaslamoney, Suresh, Jean-Baka Domelevo Entfellner, Fatma Z Guerfali, Colleen Saunders, Ahmed Mansour Alzohairy, Ruben Cloete, and Nicola Mulder "Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience." <i>PLoS Computational Biology</i> 13, 10. (2017): e1005715 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34707en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMaslamoney, S., Domelevo Entfellner, J., Guerfali, F.Z., Saunders, C., Mansour Alzohairy, A., Cloete, R. & Mulder, N. 2017. Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience. <i>PLoS Computational Biology.</i> 13(10):e1005715 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34707en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1553-734X
dc.identifier.issn1553-7358
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Maslamoney, Suresh AU - Domelevo Entfellner, Jean-Baka AU - Guerfali, Fatma Z AU - Saunders, Colleen AU - Mansour Alzohairy, Ahmed AU - Cloete, Ruben AU - Mulder, Nicola AB - Africa is not unique in its need for basic bioinformatics training for individuals from a diverse range of academic backgrounds. However, particular logistical challenges in Africa, most notably access to bioinformatics expertise and internet stability, must be addressed in order to meet this need on the continent. H3ABioNet (www.h3abionet.org), the Pan African Bioinformatics Network for H3Africa, has therefore developed an innovative, free-of-charge “Introduction to Bioinformatics” course, taking these challenges into account as part of its educational efforts to provide on-site training and develop local expertise inside its network. A multiple-delivery–mode learning model was selected for this 3-month course in order to increase access to (mostly) African, expert bioinformatics trainers. The content of the course was developed to include a range of fundamental bioinformatics topics at the introductory level. For the first iteration of the course (2016), classrooms with a total of 364 enrolled participants were hosted at 20 institutions across 10 African countries. To ensure that classroom success did not depend on stable internet, trainers pre-recorded their lectures, and classrooms downloaded and watched these locally during biweekly contact sessions. The trainers were available via video conferencing to take questions during contact sessions, as well as via online “question and discussion” forums outside of contact session time. This learning model, developed for a resource-limited setting, could easily be adapted to other settings. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 10 J1 - PLoS Computational Biology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2017 SM - 1553-734X SM - 1553-7358 T1 - Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience TI - Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34707 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34707
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMaslamoney S, Domelevo Entfellner J, Guerfali FZ, Saunders C, Mansour Alzohairy A, Cloete R, et al. Designing a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience. PLoS Computational Biology. 2017;13(10):e1005715 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34707.en_ZA
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourcePLoS Computational Biology
dc.source.journalissue10
dc.source.journalvolume13
dc.source.paginatione1005715 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005715
dc.subject.otherAfrica
dc.subject.otherComputational Biology
dc.subject.otherComputer-Assisted Instruction
dc.subject.otherDatabases
dc.subject.otherFactual
dc.subject.otherHumans
dc.subject.otherUser-Computer Interface
dc.subject.otherInternet
dc.subject.otherarticle
dc.titleDesigning a course model for distance-based online bioinformatics training in Africa: The H3ABioNet experience
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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