CYTO 2025 Tutorials: Mastering Online Flow Cytometry Teaching: Strategies, Tools, and Best Practices for Engaging Virtual Instruction

Mastering Online Flow Cytometry Teaching: Strategies, Tools, and Best Practices for Engaging Virtual Instruction
Hemant Agrawal, PhD - Founder Director, Flowcytometry Solutions Pvt. Ltd., India
William Telford, PhD - Head, NCI Research Flow Facility, National Cancer Institute, NIH, USA

Flow cytometry is a powerful and complex single-cell analysis tool widely used in biomedical research and clinical diagnostics. Teaching this important technique online poses unique challenges, including explaining theoretical concepts, demonstrating technical workflows, and interpreting data remotely. Virtual flow cytometry training programs became widespread during the COVID-19 pandemic, though it may now be decreasing due to pandemic fatigue. However, it remains an essential tool for reaching students who cannot attend live in-person sessions. The experience taught us valuable lessons about effective training methods, which we should continue to build upon and improve.

This tutorial aims to provide participants with effective methods for online flow cytometry instruction, making use of virtual tools and interactive techniques to ensure their students fully grasp and learn the core concepts in a virtual environment. Participants will be empowered with a range of techniques, digital tools, and curriculum ideas to improve online flow cytometry teaching. They will leave with a toolkit for structuring online lessons, a resource guide for interactive learning, and methods for maintaining student engagement in virtual settings, ensuring students receive a comprehensive and practical education in flow cytometry even in an online format.

CMLE Credit: 1.0