Molecular Structure and Function in an Undergraduare Curriculum (Proof of Concept)

生物科学（61）一种以学生为中心、引导探究的方法，正在利用精确的、三维的蛋白质结构物理模型来教授分子结构和功能的概念。物理模型为学生提供了一个坚实的基础，在此基础上构建他们对分子世界的知识。这种方法正在长期存在的生物和化学入门课程中进行测试，在这些课程中，这些模型和伴随的计算机可视化工具将用于补充和扩展现有课程，以及专门围绕这种教学方法设计的新高级生物化学课程。所采用的教学模式使学生能够通过将抽象概念尽可能多地与现实世界的例子联系起来，来发现和构建自己的知识。学生使用物理模型将蛋白质的抽象概念转化为有形和触觉意义重大的东西。然后，学生就模型蛋白的结构和功能特征提出自己的问题，并在有指导但开放式的实验室体验中探索问题的答案。

Biological Sciences (61)A student-focussed, guided inquiry approach to teaching concepts of molecular structure and function is being developed using accurate, three dimensional physical models of protein structure. The physical models provide students with a solid base upon which to construct their knowledge of the molecular world. This approach is being tested both in long-standing introductory biology and chemistry courses, where these models and accompanying computer visualization tools will be used to complement and extend existing courses, and in a new upper level biochemistry course specifically designed around this pedagogical approach. The pedagogical model employed enables students to discover and construct their own knowledge by relating abstract concepts as much as possible to real world examples. Students use the physical model to translate the abstract concept of a protein into something tangible and tactilely significant. Students then formulate their own questions regarding the structure and functional features of a model protein and, in a guided but open-ended laboratory experience, explore the answers to their questions.