Abstract 1032 Turning Wheels, Connecting Cells: Rube Goldberg Machines and Student Learning

Cell signaling knowledge is essential for medical students due to its practical applications in medicine. It enables a deep understanding of how cells communicate and control physiological functions, which is crucial for diagnosing and treating diseases. This understanding is particularly valuable in developing targeted therapies for conditions like cancer, where irregular signaling pathways are central. Furthermore, grasping cell signaling facilitates the design of effective drug treatments, comprehension of immune responses, and management of autoimmune diseases. This knowledge is invaluable in medical specialties like neurology, endocrinology, and cardiology, where signaling disruptions underpin various medical conditions, making it a cornerstone of medical education. This study is centered around pedagogical exploration at the department of Biochemistry, Federal Medical College, Islamabad. Following is a brief abstact. Objective: to evaluate the impact of Rube Goldberg machines as a hands-on and interactive learning approach in enhancing students' comprehension and retention of complex cell signaling processes. Methods: Out of a pool of 200 medical students, who were invited to partake in a creative contest, 63 students willingly took up the challenge. Their mission was to design a Rube Goldberg model showcasing one of their preferred cell signaling pathways. These enthusiastic participants were organized into nine teams, each tasked with crafting a Rube Goldberg machine to depict a specific signal transduction pathway. The selected pathways included the catalytic receptor JAK STAT pathway, the complement pathway, G-protein coupled receptor signaling; Gq (IP3, DAG) and Gs (cAMP) pathway, catalytic receptor MAP kinase, and nuclear receptor signaling. The event garnered considerable acclaim from both the faculty at the medical college and the broader community. It emerged as a resounding success, earning appreciation from both the participants and the spectators. We diligently gathered feedback from both faculty members and students through feedback forms. The questionnaire probed into several facets of the activity, including its effectiveness in meeting learning objectives, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills among students, and promoting teamwork during machine design. Moreover, we explored its potential for interdisciplinary learning by engaging biomedical engineering students in future iterations of the project. We also sought insights on the strengths and weaknesses of the activity, along with suggestions for improvements. To gauge the level of student engagement, motivation, and enthusiasm generated by this activity, we employed a Likert scale. Remarkably, the results demonstrated unanimous approval, with a 100% endorsement from both faculty and students across all evaluated criteria. Detailed results as well as videos of the event are available upon request. Among the strengths identified was the inherent innovation potential for each unique machine. Notably, a suggestion emerged to organize inter-college competitions in the future. It's worth mentioning that this project was personally funded by the authors and participating students themselves. Looking forward, it was recommended that efforts be made to secure funding for such projects to enable their execution on a larger scale. The authors and participating students personally funded this project.