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Beyond textbook illustrations: Hand‐held models of ordered DNA and protein structures as 3D supplements to enhance student learning of helical biopolymers
Author(s) -
Jittivadhna Karnyupha,
Ruenwongsa Pintip,
Panijpan Bhinyo
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
biochemistry and molecular biology education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 39
eISSN - 1539-3429
pISSN - 1470-8175
DOI - 10.1002/bmb.20427
Subject(s) - animation , grasp , transparency (behavior) , computer science , perception , human–computer interaction , 3d printed , computer graphics (images) , engineering drawing , engineering , psychology , biomedical engineering , computer security , neuroscience , programming language
Textbook illustrations of 3D biopolymers on printed paper, regardless of how detailed and colorful, suffer from its two‐dimensionality. For beginners, computer screen display of skeletal models of biopolymers and their animation usually does not provide the at‐a‐glance 3D perception and details, which can be done by good hand‐held models. Here, we report a study on how our students learned more from using our ordered DNA and protein models assembled from colored computer‐printouts on transparency film sheets that have useful structural details. Our models (reported in BAMBED 2009), having certain distinguished features, helped our students to grasp various aspects of these biopolymers that they usually find difficult. Quantitative and qualitative learning data from this study are reported. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Vol. 38, No. 6, pp. 359‐364, 2010