Free Online Teaching Resources for Chemistry and Biology at University Level
Teaching chemistry, biology, and related science subjects at university often means explaining difficult concepts. Using various methods and media to illustrate or demonstrate ideas can aid student understanding and engagement. Digital resources are especially beneficial as they’re low-cost, visual, engaging, and can be used repeatedly.
Here we list some of the best free, online resources that can help in teaching science subjects at university level.
1) Interactive Illustrations of Proteins
These fantastic graphics from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) show a range of macromolecular structures and detail their roles within the cell. Crucially they also show their position (extracellular, membrane, or intracellular) and relative size, so students can build a picture of the total cell workings.
Find the interactive protein illustrations here on The PDB’s website.
2) Worksheets on Chemistry Concepts
As a charity, The Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre (CCDC) supports education in the chemical sciences. Free worksheets include explanations, problems, and answers — as well as links to view molecules in 3D on the online Access Structures viewer to help to understand topics like chirality or symmetry operations. If you’re teaching chemistry these are a great way to integrate real-life examples and a digital element.
Find the worksheets on chemistry concepts here on The CCDC’s website.
Download the full directory of teaching resources available from The CCDC here.
3) Short Videos on Biochemical Processes
Another entry from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) — these 5-minute videos offer clear summaries along with animations to explain various biochemical processes. Common topics that might be encountered in biology, biochemistry, pharmacy, or medicinal chemistry courses are covered; from “what is a protein” to how a calcium pump works.
Find the 5-minute videos on biochemical processes here on The PDB’s website.
4) Resources to Teach Crystallography
This trove has worksheets, videos, online courses, slide decks, and more — all collected from the crystallography community over years. The Database of Educational Crystallographic Online Resources (DECOR) was started by Mike Zdilla at Temple University, but is now hosted and freely available from the CCDC.
Find the DECOR collection of resources to teach crystallography here.
5) Maths for Higher Education Course
This online course from The Royal Society of Chemistry has explanations, videos, and sample problems, to ease the fear many students may have around maths. You can set up a free “teach chemistry” account on their website to access a wealth of other resources too.
Find the Maths for Higher Education Course on the RSC’s website here.
6) Virtual Chemistry Labs
These web-based interactive pages simulate common undergraduate chemistry labs; titrations, dilutions, oxidation-reduction, and more. Some topics additionally have short tests to check understanding.
Find the virtual chemistry labs on the Chem Collective website here.
7) Pamphlets to Teach Crystallography
The International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) has a set of pamphlets that give detailed explanations and examples across a range of topics in crystallography. Alongside each pamphlet the specific teaching aims, student level, and required background are clearly laid out, so you can understand if it applies to your class.
Find the pamphlets to teach crystallography on The IUCR’s website here.
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