SBIR Phase I: CytoBeaker: Teaching cell biology using simulated experiments

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段研究项目将尝试采用为细胞生物学研究编写的基于代理的模拟模型，并编写一个新的细胞生物学建模框架，用于本科和高中水平的细胞生物学教学。细胞生物学的研究模型过于复杂，计算量太大，不适用于研究生以下的教育。然而，基于代理的建模方法所固有的可视化和执行现实实验的能力对于教育用途是理想的。该项目将结合一家领先的细胞模型研究中心的科学专长和一家生产生物教育软件的领先公司的教育专长，为本科细胞生物学课程创建一系列基于模拟的在线教学模块。细胞和分子生物学是高中和大学生物学课程的核心主题，是生物学研究中最活跃的领域之一，对医学领域也很重要。虽然细胞生物学所涵盖的主题很吸引人，但目前的教学方式往往非常被动。主动学习方法现在被广泛认为可以提高学生对许多科学概念的理解和记忆。该项目将为细胞生物学学生制作一套活跃的教材，提高他们对细胞过程的理解，从而提高他们成为我国未来研究人员和医务人员的能力。这些材料对于每年1800万美元的细胞生物学教材市场来说是非常有吸引力的。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will attempt to take agent-based simulation models being written for cell biology research and write a new cell biology modeling framework to be used for teaching cell biology at the undergraduate and high school level. Research models in cell biology are too complex and computationally intensive for use in education below the graduate level. However, the visualization and ability to perform realistic experiments inherent in the agent-based modeling approach is ideal for educational uses. This project will combine the scientific expertise of one of the leading centers for cellular models with the educational expertise of one of the leading companies producing biology education software to create a series of simulation-based online teaching modules for undergraduate cell biology classes.Cell and molecular biology are core topics in biology classes at both high school and college levels and are some of the most active fields of biological research, as well as being important for medical fields. Although the topics covered in cell biology are fascinating, they are currently often taught in very passive ways. Active learning approaches are now widely acknowledged to improve students understanding and retention of many scientific concepts. This project will produce a set of active teaching materials for cell biology students, improving their understanding of cellular processes, and thus improving their ability to become our countries future researchers and medical personnel. The materials should be very attractive to an $18 million/year market in cell biology teaching materials.