Food Chemistry

Design and development of e-learning materials

Description of theme

Our laboratory invests in the design and development of digital learning materials for food chemistry education using a Design Oriented Research Approach (DORA). Several types of learning material were developed

  • Digital exercises / linear cases: intensive questions and tasks with built in feedback and hints to acquire knowledge on food chemistry. This ranges from > 100 exercises for the course Food Chemistry, several linear cases in many courses such as Food Properties and Function and Food Ingredient Functionality. Many of these exercises have been used for several years now and are highly appreciated by our students.
  • Pre-laboratory assignments: assignments in which students design several experiments to answer a couple of research questions related to food chemistry.
  • Quantitative assignments: assignments in which students calculate on chemical reactions in food products. These assignments are used in the course Food Chemistry since 2000.
  • Online Problem Based Learning (group work): by using tools such as Google Docs, Blackboard, or even ExperD we have developed several options to implement online group work based on the principles of Problem Based Learning
  • Labbuddy (ExperD and WebLabManual): a design environment for students to design their (own) lab experiments (ExperD), connected to the digital lab manual. Although developed during a PhD project at our group, this program is now hosted by Kryt bv.
  • LabSim (a virtual experiment environment VEE): in this extension of labbuddy students design experiments for certain research questions and then receive the data based on the design choices students made. Students process the data to answer the research questions. VEE can prepare students for lab classes, or even replace (part of) lab classes.

Research projects