In Touch with Molecules: Extending Learning with Cyber-enabled Tangibles

该项目的目的是在真实的教育环境中与五名教师（三所高中和两所大学）和450名高中和大学生一起检查网络支持的有形工具的能力。该项目评估了使用网络支持的有形工具，以提高学生对分子生物学中三个困难主题的理解：（1）蛋白质结构，（2）DNA和（3）病毒。 作为美国分子生物学教学的核心概念，学生们往往难以理解分子间的相互作用是如何形成结构并产生功能的。 这个专题的目的是帮助学生理解结构、功能和突现属性与过程之间的映射。因此，网络支持的有形工具将测试技术是否增强和改善了教学难度。 此外，该研究还提供了有关哪些内容领域可以有效地传达这些技术和学生的水平（高中或大学）的信息。该项目的更广泛影响是医学，药理学，农业，生态教育的潜在变革性改进。 这些工具在原子、分子和器官水平上促进计算机与人类的交互。 带有标记（类似于条形码）的手持物体使用网络摄像头在计算机屏幕上跟踪和说明不同的属性和特征。研究表明，随着分子生物学的日益突出，对促进深度学习和动机的材料和支架的需求越来越大。为了帮助满足这些需求，该项目汇集了来自顶级研究实体的领导者，认知和学生学习的研究人员，科学家，科学教育工作者，教师以及高中和大学生，以调查网络支持的有形资产如何促进不同的和改进的方法来学习分子生物学中的核心概念。

The purpose this project is to examine the capabilities of cyber-enabled tangible tools in real educational settings with five teachers (three high schools and two college) and 450 high school and college students. The project evaluates the use of cyber-enabled tangible tools to enhance student's understanding of three difficult topics in molecular biology: (1) protein structure, (2) DNA, and (3) viruses. As core concepts of molecular biology instruction in the U.S., students often have difficulties understanding how molecular interactions result in structures that give rise to function. The intent of this project is to help students understand mappings between structure, function, and emergent properties and processes. Hence, the cyber-enabled tangible tools will test whether technology enhances and improves how difficult subject matter is taught. Additionally, the study provides information about what areas of content can be effectively conveyed with these technologies and for which levels of students (high school or college).The broader impact of the project are potentially transformative improvements in medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, ecology education. The tools promote computer-human interactions at the atomic, molecular, and organ levels. Hand-held objects with markers, similar to barcodes, use a web cam to track and illustrate different properties and features on a computer screen. Research shows that as molecular biology grows in prominence, there is greater need for materials and scaffolds that promote deep learning and motivation. To help meet those needs, the project brings together leaders from top research entities, researchers in cognition and student learning, scientists, science educators, teachers, and high school and college students to investigate how cyber-enabled tangibles promote different and improved ways to learn core concepts in molecular biology.