Fantastic Microbes and Where to Find Them: evaluating learning-by-doing outcomes in a crowdfunded metagenomics workshop

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ID: 325169
2026
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Ranked #164 of 244 articles by views in FEMS microbiology letters

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Abstract
Metagenomics offers a powerful framework for authentic, interdisciplinary learning, yet it remains underrepresented in undergraduate education due to technical and infrastructural barriers. We hypothesized that a research-based, learning-by-doing metagenomics workshop supported by accessible bioinformatics tools could enhance students' perceived skills, self-efficacy, and conceptual understanding of metagenomic analysis. To test this hypothesis, we designed and evaluated a hybrid hands-on workshop in which undergraduate and postgraduate students analyzed real environmental shotgun metagenomic datasets generated from soil samples collected during a citizen science initiative. Using the graphical workflow platform KBase, participants completed an end-to-end metagenomic analysis, from quality control and assembly to genome reconstruction, taxonomic classification, functional annotation, and scientific presentation of results. Educational outcomes were assessed through validated retrospective pre-post questionnaires, self-efficacy scales, and an open-ended conceptual understanding task. Participants showed significant increases in perceived metagenomic skills and confidence in performing metagenomic analyses, while gains in perceived learning showed a positive trend. Conceptual understanding improved across educational levels, particularly among participants with limited prior experience. Together, these findings demonstrate that authentic, data-driven metagenomics activities can effectively lower barriers to computational biology and foster meaningful learning through hands-on research experiences.
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Authors Giulia Ghisleni, Ellen Dow, Teresa Iovino, Pamela Jael Colman-Vega, Alessia Dicesare, Emanuele Guanella, Yodit Maria Bacchi, A. Colombo, Maristella Leccese, Matilde Marzucchi, Margherita Emma Gorla, Alessandra Caracciolo, Alessio Sala, Polina Makarycheva, Sharon Cristal Rubrica, Andrea Ferrier, Alice Armanni, Sara Fumagalli, Elisha Wood-Charlson, Antonia Bruno
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Journal FEMS microbiology letters
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/femsle/fnag093
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/femsle/fnag093
Keywords Keywords not found

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