Abstract 1869 Using open note exams when teaching Biochemistry I

Education has faced challenges in recent years due to the explosion of online information, pandemic-related classroom changes, and the rise of highly available AI platforms. During a redesign of a Biochemistry I course, I refocused exams on developing students' higher order thinking abilities like those used by working biochemists, rather than just assessing content knowledge. To support this goal, I implemented open note exams which allow students to analyze data from the literature, design experiments, predict outcomes, and draw conclusions about biochemical systems based on results. This interactive poster shares best practices and lessons learned from seven years of open note exam use in both in-person and online Biochemistry I courses. Attendees can share their experiences through quick survey responses and brief written feedback directly on the poster. An extensive online survey is also available for those interested in further discussion.