OMLeT—An Alternative Approach to Learning Metabolism: Glycolysis and the TCA Cycle as an Example

The techniques and learning styles used by students to learn metabolism are as varied as the topics in biology. Given the technological advancement of computers, current resources (including textbook CDs and online Web sites) still fail to address the needs of all students, largely due to a psychological phenomenon called the hindsight bias. Personal experience expressed by undergraduates, verified the need for an additional resource, one that is interactive, simple, and informative. This resulted in the development of a Web site called OMLeT, an acronym for Online Metabolism Learning Tool. Through the use of PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) scripting, this project led to the creation of a dynamic Web site that is geared towards several aspects of learning styles and allows the student to process metabolic pathways via a user-defined approach. Furthermore, the versatility of the site provides the user with a comprehensive reference point. Currently, the site is constructed to contain two pathways, glycolysis and TCA cycle.