Bio-Organic Reaction Animations

化学（12）本项目继续开发面向生物化学的可视化程序，生物有机反应动画（Bio-ORA）。由于其开发的概念验证阶段的结果，Bio-ORA目前有三个酶促过程的动画。下一阶段的开发包括最终产品中总共有15种酶。这个项目的其他生物分子是糖（将费舍尔投影转化为3D结构、突变、双糖、低聚糖）、氨基酸（二级结构、α螺旋、β螺旋和片）、核苷（DNA形成、双键氢键、主要/次要凹槽、嵌入）和脂质（胶束形成、脂质双层、甾体结构、亲脂相互作用）。该产品是为在有机和生物化学课程中学习生物有机化学的学生设计的。该项目的评估旨在指导Bio-ORA的开发，并确定使用该可视化程序的价值。正在利用用户的建议来改进材料的内容和提供方式。Bio-ORA的传播是通过网络访问，也许最终是通过一家出版公司。该教学工具正在专业会议上展示，评估结果将会公布。智力优势：为了让学生能够欣赏并对生物过程的理解做出贡献，他们学习支配生物学的化学是必不可少的。Bio-ORA产品通过提供以三维形式可视化生化反应和结构的手段，促进了分子水平上生化过程的教学和学习。该软件的使用为教师提供了向学生展示复杂概念的额外手段，并鼓励教师专注于帮助学生理解生化过程，而不是记住结构和化合物的名称。当学生学习了具有代表性的生化过程的原理时，他们就能更好地理解不熟悉的生化转化。这一过程不仅有利于学习，而且可能提高学生对生物科学的认知和理解。该软件对学生学习和认知的影响正在被仔细衡量。从这些研究中获得的信息使人们对3D技术在学习过程中所起的作用有了更多的了解，并有助于改进产品。更广泛的影响：该项目的目标是达到国际受众，并对世界范围内的生物有机化学教学产生影响。这种拓展自然包括来自不同文化、不同学习方式和不同教育背景的学生。目前的合作伙伴包括小型学院的教师，包括南犹他大学、宾夕法尼亚州立大学斯库尔基尔分校、杨百翰大学爱达荷分校和杨百翰大学夏威夷分校，其中50%的学生是非白人。该项目的另一个影响是提高了3D技术的使用。支持3D图像可视化的Chime、Java3D、Cult3D、VRML和Viewpoint等应用程序可能会受到未来软件开发人员的欢迎。

Chemistry (12)This project continues development of a biochemistry oriented visualization program, Bio-organic Reaction Animations (Bio-ORA). As a result of the proof-of-concept phase of its development, Bio-ORA currently has animations of three enzymatic processes. The next level of development includes a total of 15 enzymes represented in the final product. Other bio-molecules being targeted in this project are sugars (the conversion of Fischer projections into 3D structures, mutarotation, disaccharides, oligosaccharides), amino acids (secondary structure, alpha helix, beta turns and sheets), nucleosides (DNA formation, hydrogen-bonding in duplex, major/minor groove, intercalation), and lipids (micelle formation, lipid bilayer, steroidal structure, lipophilic interactions). The product is designed for students learning bio-organic chemistry in organic and biochemistry classes. The evaluation of the project is intended to guide development of Bio-ORA and to establish the value of using this visualization program. The recommendations of the users are being used to improve the content and delivery of the material. The dissemination of Bio-ORA is via web access and perhaps ultimately through a publishing company. This teaching tool is being presented at professional meetings, and the evaluation results will be published. Intellectual Merit: For students to be able to appreciate and contribute to the understanding of biological processes, it is essential that they learn the chemistry that governs biology. The Bio-ORA products facilitate both teaching and learning of biochemical processes at the molecular level by providing a means of visualizing biochemical reactions and structures in a three-dimensional format. Use of the software provides instructors with additional means of presenting complex concepts to students, and encourages instructors to focus on helping students to understand biochemical processes rather than to memorize names of structures and compounds. As students learn the principles that govern representative biochemical processes, they are better prepared to understand unfamiliar biochemical transformations. This process not only facilitates learning but likely improves the students' perception and understanding of the biological sciences in general. The impact that this software has on student learning and perception is being carefully measured. Information from these studies is providing an increased understanding of the role 3D technology can play in the learning process, and is helping to improve the product. Broader Impacts: The goal of this project is to reach an international audience and to have an impact on the teaching of bio-organic chemistry worldwide. This outreach naturally includes students of diverse cultures, diverse learning styles, and diverse educational backgrounds. Current partners include instructors at small colleges, including Southern Utah University, Pennsylvania State University-Schuylkill, Brigham Young University-Idaho, and Brigham Young University-Hawaii, which has 50% non-white enrollment. Another impact of the project is the improvement of the use of 3D technology. Applications for Chime, Java3D, Cult3D, VRML, and Viewpoint that allow for visualization of 3D images are likely to be appreciated by future software developers.