DiVE into science education: Development of a biological/chemical 3D virtual model
Rochelle Schwartz-Bloom, Director, Duke Center for Science Education
Director, RISE (Raising Interest in Science Education)
Professor of Pharmacology
Project Description
This project will create an effective molecular model of drug action to engage students and teach basic chemical and biological principles, like oxidation, enzyme action, and genetic polymorphisms. An interdisciplinary team of students in Pharmacology 197 and 198 (Research Independent Study in Science Education, Fall 2007 and Spring 2008) has selected, planned, and created a three dimensional, interactive, immersive animation of molecules interacting. In the Duke immersive Visualization Environment (DiVE), students can see and manipulate the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase as it binds to NAD+ and alcohol molecules to oxidize alcohol. Over the summer of 2008, student Marcel Yang is perfecting the model, with input from students in the Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) and LEAP (Launch into Education About Pharmacology, a science enrichment program for rising 10th & 11th grade students) program.
During the Fall of 2008, another team member, Dave McMullen, will test whether freshman chemistry student learning of basic concepts is enhanced when exposed to the interactive model either in the DiVE or on a flat screen, compared to the “textbook” style of content delivery.
When this project is completed, it will be entered into the NSF Science and Engineering Visualization Challenge.
photo credit: Les Todd
Project start date: 5/4/2007
Funding awarded: $ 6,500
Additional information:
Duke University Visualization Technology Group
RISE (Raising Interest in Science Education)
Other projects by Pharmacology 150
