2020 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology First-Year Courses
International Bio-Creative Design【School of Life Science and Technology】 B(PBL)
- Academic unit or major
- First-Year Courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yuki Yamaguchi
- Class Format
- Exercise (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Fri (W933)
- Class
- B(PBL)
- Course Code
- XLS.B104
- Number of credits
- 010
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
To nurture literacy (knowledge and competence), fundamental expertise, and creativity in Life Science and Technology, problem-based learning (PBL)-type exercises or group works are carried out in this course.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. acquire wide technical knowledge about the bio-science and technology
2. apply deep originality and sharpen their spirit of inquiry
3. discuss in a small group
4. present orally in English
5. acquire strong leadership, sense of cooperation, flexibility, situation grasp ability, stress control ability to go to the global community
6. demonstrate their ability in an English environment undeterred by language challenges
Keywords
creativity, advanced biotechnology and bioscience, discussion, international cooperation, English communication
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In this course, Orientation and introduction is followed by two short topics and two long topics, and PBL (problem-based learning) is carried out on each topic. PBL on short topics is completed in one 100-min session, whereas PBL on long topics is completed in two 100-min sessions.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Orientation and introduction | Understand the outline of the course and how to proceed group works. |
| Class 2 | Short topic 1 "Creation of artificial proteins by evolutionary molecular engineering" "Understanding the roles of metal ions in living organisms and how they facilitate biochemical reactions at normal temperature and pressure as catalysts" | Carry out PBL about short topic 1 and summarize your findings in class. |
| Class 3 | Short topic 2 "Chemical structures and properties of biomolecules" "Creating living systems" | Carry out PBL about short topic 2 and summarize your findings in class. |
| Class 4 | Long topic 1 "Understanding the relationship between material and energy on the earth and discussing how to solve current environmental issues using biochemical reactions (#1)" "Is 〇〇 good or bad to your health? Evidence-based medicine (#1)" | Carry out the first half of PBL about long topic 1. Gather information, develop arguments, and achieve the task assigned by lecturers. |
| Class 5 | Long topic 1 "Understanding the relationship between material and energy on the earth and discussing how to solve current environmental issues using biochemical reactions (#2)" "Is 〇〇 good or bad to your health? Evidence-based medicine (#2)" | Carry out the second half of PBL about long topic 1 and summarize your findings in class. |
| Class 6 | Long topic 2 "Science of infectious diseases (#1)" "The mechanism of action of drugs (#1)" | Carry out the first half of PBL about long topic 2. Gather information, develop arguments, and achieve the task assigned by lecturers. |
| Class 7 | Long topic 2 "Science of infectious diseases (#2)" "The mechanism of action of drugs (#2)" | Carry out the second half of PBL about long topic 2 and summarize your findings in class. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
none
Reference books, course materials, etc.
none
Evaluation methods and criteria
Student course scores will be based on attendance, products or reports resulting from PBL, and peer evaluation within teams.
Related courses
- Bio-Creative Design 1
- Bio-Creative Design 2
- Advanced Bio-Creative Design
Prerequisites
Knowledge of basic bioscience and biotchnology