The Virtual Cell Project Phillip McClean Alan White Brian Slator North Dakota State University

Educational Role-playing Games “Learning-by-doing” Experiences MultiUser Exploration Spatially-oriented virtual worlds Practical planning and decision making

Educational Role-playing Games “Learning-by-doing” Experiences Problem solving Scientific method Real-world content Mature thinking

Advantages of Virtual Worlds Collapse virtual time and distance Allow physical or practical impossibilities Participate from anywhere Interact with other users, virtual artifacts, and software agents Multi-user collaborations and competitive play

Technical Approaches Networked, internet-based, client-server MultiPlayer Simulation-based Implemented in Java applets

The VCell VRML Worlds The Cell The Laboratory

The Virtual Cell

The Laboratory

Details of the VCell Interface Game Play

VCell Login Use VCell login box to connect to the cell The VCell VRML file will load in the Client Window.

Instructions from Lab Guy VCell Instructions Reference information about organelles, etc. is available here. Goals for each level are listed here Instructions from Lab Guy

Transporting from One Place to Another Click on the Lab Guy icon to move between the Laboratory and the VCell. The Do It Box gives you choices for destinations. For example, this selection will send you to the VCell for your next set of experiments.

Performing Experiments Fly around organelles and perform experiments Choose actions here Choose assays here Experimental Results

Deduction of Organelle Identity Choose Identify action here Choose organelle to identify here Successful identification based on experimental results

Achieving Another Goal Information for new goal New Action and Assay Experimental Results

Completing Another Goal Updated Goals Success again!

Guessing Not Allowed Appropriate experiments required for identification.

All Goals Completed Directions for proceeding to the next level given.

ETC Exercise Instruction Window You arrive in the Lab. Click on the Lab Guy to receive your next instructions. Lab Guy welcomes you back and gives you your next assignment

Mitochondrial Function: Electron Transport Chain Animation ETC Membrane Complexes Molecules in motion Molecule Key http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/abergstr/vcell/rox/july27/600p4c.wrl

Chloroplast Function: Work in Progress User in Sub shoots photons to activate photosynthesis Photosystem Complexes

Assessment Not “multiple choice” recall Content specific: Problem solving, hypothesis formation, deductive reasoning

Assessment by Scenarios Assess computer literacy PreTest: Present scenario, students propose course of action or solution Engage in learning experience Control vs Virtual PostTest: Present similar scenario, student response Analysis of assessment data

Current Implementation NDSU General Biology Class 600 students total 300 control students 150 alternative (WWW based, but not VCell) students 150 VCell students