Development of Novel Augmented Reality Tool for Teaching Molecular Visualization in Biochemistry

生物化学课程的一个核心学习目标是理解大分子（如蛋白质）的功能和结构之间的关系。然而，教师通常必须通过使用2D图像来教授学生3D分子。因此，许多学生在掌握三维大分子结构的关键要素方面存在困难，包括尺度和分子形状变化的影响。该项目旨在通过开发增强现实（AR）应用程序来可视化3D大分子来解决这一限制，这些大分子对于理解生物化学，细胞生物学，分子生物学和遗传学至关重要。AR是一种交互式系统，其中计算机生成的3D对象被叠加到物理环境中。这个项目旨在开发一个免费的基于ar的应用程序，可以安装在移动智能手机和平板电脑上，可以用来可视化和操纵大分子。该项目寻求在两所文理学院的课堂上实施应用程序，每年总共有大约100名学生。它还将评估这些基于ar的教学工具对学生学习的影响。由于AR应用程序将免费提供，它可以使公众轻松“看到”并与对人类健康重要的生物大分子互动。为了解决目前用于教授大分子结构的教学工具的差距，该项目有三个目标：1)开发一个使用AR技术的应用程序，允许学生和教师参与并与虚拟3D大分子结构互动；2)开发膜运输（钾通道）、变构调节（血红蛋白）、活性位点催化（g蛋白）三个生物化学主题学习模块；3)在不同院校、不同教师讲授的生物化学课程中，实施每个学习模块并评估其效果。该项目将评估增强现实技术对学生学习成果和课堂教学实践潜在变化的影响。该项目旨在评估模块在以下方面的有效性：(i)该技术的用户体验；Ii)对学生态度和视觉空间技能的影响；以及iii)对使用虚拟3D物体教授大分子结构和功能的教学实践的影响。在评估期间，该项目还将开发和验证有效评估模块的新工具。该项目旨在通过为感兴趣的教师和专业科学教育者举办讲习班来传播增强现实应用，从而为可以开发更多交互式增强现实模块的学术合作和社区伙伴关系奠定基础。除了为分子结构和功能的教学提供一个新颖的工具外，该项目还将为未来更多基于ar的教学工具的评估和开发奠定坚实的基础框架。本项目由美国国家科学基金会“改善本科STEM教育（IUSE）计划：参与式学生学习（探索与设计层）”资助。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A core learning objective for students in biochemistry courses is understanding the relationship between the function and the structure of macromolecules, such as proteins. However, instructors must typically teach students about 3D molecules by using 2D images. As a result, many students have trouble grasping key elements of 3D macromolecular structure, including scale and the effects of molecular shape changes. This project aims to address this limitation by developing an augmented reality (AR) application to visualize 3D macromolecules that are central to understanding biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, and genetics. AR is an interactive system in which a computer-generated 3D object is superimposed onto the physical environment. This project aims to develop a freely available AR-based application that can be installed on mobile smartphones and tablets and that can be used to visualize and manipulate macromolecules. The project seeks to implement the application in classes at two liberal arts colleges that include a combined total of ~100 students each year. It will also assess the impact of these AR-based teaching tools on student learning. Since the AR application will be freely available, it can enable the public to easily 'see' and interact with biological macromolecules that are important to human health. To address the current gap in instructional tools available for teaching macromolecular structure, this project has three objectives: 1) Develop an application that uses AR technology to allow students and instructors to engage and interact with virtual 3D macromolecular structures; 2) Develop three learning modules on biochemistry topics of membrane transport (potassium channel), allosteric regulation (hemoglobin), active site catalysis (G-proteins); 3) Implement each learning module and evaluate its impacts in biochemistry courses taught by different instructors at different institutions. The project will evaluate the impacts of AR technology on both student learning outcomes and on potential changes to instructional practices in the classroom. The project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the modules with respect to i) user experience with the technology; ii) impacts on student attitudes and visuospatial skills; and iii) impacts on instructional practices of using virtual 3D objects to teach macromolecular structure and function. During evaluation, the project will also develop and validate new instruments for effective assessment of the modules. The project aims to disseminate the AR applications through workshops for interested instructors and professional science educators, thus layin the groundwork for academic collaborations and community partnerships that can develop additional interactive AR modules. In addition to providing a novel tool for teaching molecular structure and function, the project will lay a strong foundational framework for the evaluation and development of additional AR-based teaching tools in the future. This project is supported by NSF's Improving Undergraduate STEM Education (IUSE) Program: Engaged Student Learning (Exploration and Design tier).This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.