The Virtual Cell Project
Phillip McCleanAlan WhiteBrian Slator
North Dakota State University
Details of the VCell
•Interface•Game Play
VCell Login
The VCell login window is launchedfrom the Virtual Cell Home page byclicking on the “Login & Play” link.It may also be opened from the Site Map page.
Virtual Cell - Introduction
Goal InformationBox – This text box can be accessed fromthe “Information”pull-down menu.
Whenever your labassistant wishes to communicatenew informationconcerning your current goal, theGoal Information Box will appear.
In this case, you must meet with the lab assistant.To do so, youmust click on hisbody.
VCell InstructionsReferenceinformation about organelles, etc. is available through the “Information” pull-down menu.
Instructions fromThe Lab Guy andcommunication messages from other players aredisplayed in the“User to User”communication box. You may communicate with other players by
Typing messages into the communication box.
Click on the Lab Guy icon to move between the Laboratory and the VCell.
The “Tell Lab Guy” box” gives you choices for destinations and allows you to communicate with your lab guy.For example, this selection will send you to the VCell for your next set of experiments.
Transporting from One Place to Another
Performing Experiments
Experimental Results
Choose assays here
Fly around organelles and perform experiments
Choose actions here
To perform experimentsyou must select the assay action from the “Action” pull-down menu.Then choose an assay forthe item for which youwish to test. Once you havedone this, you must clickon an organelle to performthe experiment. In this casethe player is testing forchlorophyll.
You may also type yourown notes.
Deduction of Organelle Identity
Choose organelle to identify here
Successful identification based on experimental results
Choose identify action here
To identify an organelleyou must select the “identify” action fromthe “Action” pull-downmenu. Then choose an object for the item forwhich you wish to test.Once you have donethis, you must clickon an organelle toidentify the organelle.in this case the playerhas identified thechloroplast.
Guessing Not Allowed
Appropriate experiments are required for identification.
All Goals Completed
Once you have completed all goals for the current level, directions for proceeding to the next level will be given. In this case, you are instructed to return to the lab to get your next assignment. Click on the Lab Guy icon to do so.
Notice that the “Goals Accomplished” list will change once you have completed all goals for the current level.
New Level Instructions
Lab Guy welcomes you back and gives you your next assignment
You arrive in the Lab. Click on the Lab Guy to receive your next instructions.
Educational Role-playing Games
“Learning-by-doing” Experiences
• MultiUser
• Exploration
• Spatially-oriented virtual worlds
• Practical planning and decision making
Information for Instructors
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 CellThe Laboratory
The Virtual Cell
The Laboratory
Mitochondrial Function:Electron Transport Chain Animation Mission
Molecules in motion
Molecule Key
ETC Membrane Complexes
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/abergstr/vcell/rox/july27/600p4c.wrl
Chloroplast Function:Photosynthasis Mission – A 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
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