Adaptation of laboratory practices in a pharmacology course at a public university in Peru

Innovation in teaching delivery or learning technology

Abstract

The focus of this case study is the implementation of a pedagogical strategy to adapt the laboratory practices of the Pharmacology course in a Peruvian public university, where animals such as rats and mice are routinely used. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and the consequent virtualisation of the teaching-learning process, several academic challenges were posed. The ‘Practical Seminars’ have arisen as a pedagogical proposal that allows faculty to adapt to the conditions of society. They are designed based on selected articles that reflect experiments with drugs, where selected information is adapted, such as graphs, images and even videos. By posing analysis questions allows for students’ previous knowledge to be checked; thus promoting an applied critical attitude to clinical situations. With this resource the faculty tried to recreate a significant space for self-learning. The results of students’ partial evaluation reflects a performance similar to that of previous years of the course, with teaching staff accepting this modality well. Finally, a space for analysis was generated, in addition to dispensing with the use of experimental animals.