Case Study with Trinity College Dublin School of Biochemistry & Immunology
Jack Brophy, Co-Founder Anytime Creativity
Dr. Jean Fletcher, Associate Professor and Director of Undergraduate Teaching & Learning at Trinity College Dublin School of Biochemistry & Immunology, wanted to engage her class of immunotherapeutics students in a deeper learning experience, where they could foster their creative problem-solving skills and challenge themselves beyond traditional means. However, given the technical nature of the module content and Jean’s limited experience with challenge-based learning, it felt a bit daunting to introduce a new hands-on, active learning assignment.
The Solution
We worked closely with Jean to design a challenge that aligned with her module content and learning outcomes. Students had to choose one of six pre-identified focus areas and develop a concept for a new idea aimed at the immunotherapeutics community—pursuing innovative solutions with real value and practical, positive impact.
The platform provided students with tips throughout to help them foster their creative problem-solving skills and collective critical thinking skills, while staying within the scientific boundaries necessary for the subject.
Students worked in teams of 3 and were seamlessly guided through a stage-gate, immersive experience, consisting of:
Stage 1 – select a focus area, gather insights through primary and secondary research, cluster insights into themes, frame a narrow problem-to-be-solved.
Stage 2 – brainstorm multiple solutions to their identified problem, receive feedback on their idea from our custom-trained idea assistant, revise their solution.
Stage 3 – individually provide feedback to another team on how they could improve their idea.
Stage 4 – review feedback received on their idea, iterate and create a prototype.
Stage 5 – vote for their favourite idea and justify the reason for their vote.
Stage 6 – submit a reflection on their subject learning, mindset and skills development.
The Impact
- 95% of students found the platform ‘Very Useful’ or ‘Extremely Useful’ at deepening their subject matter knowledge.
- 100% of students found the platform ‘Very Useful’ or ‘Extremely Useful’ at supporting effective collaboration.
- 20% increase in student’s confidence to solve complex problems.
- 15% increase in students’ confidence to generate creative ideas.
- On average, students rated the overall learning experience as 9/10.
The Voice of the Educator and Student
“We used Anytime Creativity within our immunotherapeutics class to challenge students in a way that went beyond traditional methods, fostering a deeper, more engaged learning experience. The platform allowed me to seamlessly integrate challenge-based learning into the module, encouraging collaboration, creative thinking and critical analysis.”
Dr. Jean Fletcher, Educator
“The challenge was genuinely fun and pushed us to think about drug development from a totally fresh perspective. It got us out of our usual mindset and into a more creative space.”
Student (anonymous survey response)
