Engaging the Next Generation of Biochemists

吸引下一代生物化学家

• 批准号: 1625804
• 负责人: Karin van Dijk
• 金额: $ 59.91万
• 依托单位: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-12-01 至 2021-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1625804&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Engaging; Next; Generation; Biochemists

The field of biochemistry provides a critical foundation for students as they pursue careers in diverse fields, such as health care, and basic and applied research. To master core biochemical concepts, students must integrate background knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics as they learn about the dynamic structures and processes that constitute biochemical systems. Students often struggle with mechanistic reasoning, as evidenced by their inability to connect structures to functions and to properly attribute causality within decentralized systems. Hence, the ability to properly visualize and model biochemical systems represents an important means to advance student learning. Unfortunately, the traditional biochemistry classroom provides limited opportunities for students to engage with concepts in realistic and interactive ways, as primarily static, two-dimensional images and diagrams are used as teaching tools within passive, lecture-based environments. This project will transform biochemistry instruction by developing a series of easily-incorporated modules that make use of dynamic physical and computational models. These modules will focus on helping students develop their understandings of the direct relationships between macromolecular structure and function as well as the dynamic coordination of metabolic systems. At a larger level, this project will help establish new paradigms in biochemistry teaching and learning, and significantly enhance the training of the next generation of STEM professionals.The goals of this project are: (i) to develop dynamic, structural three-dimensional (3D) models and implement these into modules for biochemistry courses to improve understanding about the complex 3D structures critical to life; (ii) to develop computational models of metabolic networks and implement these into modules for biochemistry courses to improve understanding of biochemical systems concepts; and (iii) to determine the impact of the physical and computational modules on student learning of key learning objectives. The 3D models will be developed using the cost-accessible 3D printing technology and the computational models will be built on an open-source software platform called Cell Collective, developed by one of the project's co-PIs. This platform provides a unique interactive environment for students to explore the relationships and dynamics of complex systems in ways that are not available in other simulations, and resembling authentic science practice as articulated by Vision and Change. These modules and their associated materials will be made available on-line, and dissemination efforts, including a workshop, will help propagate their use at many institutions.

生物化学领域为学生提供了一个重要的基础，因为他们追求不同领域的职业生涯，如医疗保健，基础和应用研究。为了掌握核心的生物化学概念，学生必须整合生物学，化学，物理学和数学的背景知识，因为他们了解构成生物化学系统的动态结构和过程。学生们经常与机械推理作斗争，他们无法将结构与功能联系起来，也无法正确地将因果关系归因于分散系统。因此，正确可视化和建模生化系统的能力是促进学生学习的重要手段。不幸的是，传统的生物化学课堂为学生提供了有限的机会，以现实和互动的方式参与概念，主要是静态的，二维图像和图表被用作被动的，基于讲座的环境中的教学工具。这个项目将通过开发一系列易于整合的模块来改变生物化学教学，这些模块利用动态物理和计算模型。这些模块将侧重于帮助学生发展大分子结构和功能之间的直接关系，以及代谢系统的动态协调的理解。在更大的层面上，该项目将有助于建立生物化学教学和学习的新范式，并大大加强下一代STEM专业人员的培训。该项目的目标是：（i）开发动态的结构三维（3D）模型，并将其应用于生物化学课程的模块中，以提高对生命关键的复杂3D结构的理解;（ii）发展新陈代谢网络的计算模型，并将这些模型应用于生物化学课程的单元，以加深学生对生物化学系统概念的理解;及（iii）研究物理和计算单元对学生学习主要学习目标的影响。3D模型将使用成本低廉的3D打印技术开发，计算模型将建立在一个名为Cell Collective的开源软件平台上，该平台由该项目的合作PI之一开发。该平台为学生提供了一个独特的互动环境，以其他模拟中不可用的方式探索复杂系统的关系和动态，并类似于Vision and Change所阐述的真实科学实践。这些单元及其相关材料将在网上提供，传播工作，包括一个讲习班，将有助于在许多机构推广使用。