A Web-based Introduction to Bioinformatics - Epistemological Beliefs in Bioinformatics

An OpenLab learning course, taking place in both class room and wet and computer lab, was used to explore the image on bioinformatics reflected by undergraduates and students. Three main aspects were investigated. First, what is their opinion about the bioinformatics working environment? Second, how can biological, mathematical and scientific knowledge increase and third, do epistemological beliefs change during attendance of a specific course? A total of 735 persons were surveyed with two different, newly designed, questionnaires. The participants consider bioinformatics more biological than graduated scientists. The increase of knowledge is significantly higher when doing additional data analysis and computer work than working only in the wet lab. We found also a significant change in the epistemological beliefs. Therefore, we recommend a data analysing lecture and online-support in an OpenLab-course. Respectively, we recommend an interdisciplinary introduction to bioinformatics.