Teaching and Learning Microbiology for Engineers in a Digital World: The Case of the FIT Courses at the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico

The availability of online courses has increased dramatically; however, the effectiveness of online teaching remains uncertain. The Tecnologico de Monterrey has implemented the Tec21 educational model that includes online teaching with the modality of the FIT courses (Flexibility, Interaction and Technology), a type of well-designed courses using the CANVAS web-based platform and using ZOOM as a tool for communication with students. To compare the objective learning outcomes between a FIT course and a face-to-face course (Microbiology for Engineering), an analysis was made between these two types of courses, with the same or different instructor. Our results clearly indicate that the grades of the students enrolled in the FIT groups were higher than those of the classroom courses. These results were confirmed when the historical record files of both types of teaching were examined. Satisfaction surveys however revealed that students prefer face-to-face courses to online courses. Our data implies that it is necessary to work more on the tools of the distance-learning courses to make them extremely attractive and interesting for students.