The Virtual Cell Project

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The Virtual Cell Project
Phillip McClean Alan White Brian Slator
North Dakota State University
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• Details of the VCell
• Interface
• Game Play

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VCell Login
The VCell login window is launched from the
Virtual Cell Home page by clicking on the Login
Play link. It may also be opened from the
Site Map page.
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Virtual Cell - Introduction
Goal Information Box This text box can be
accessed from the Information pull-down
menu. Whenever your lab assistant wishes to
communicate new information concerning your
current goal, the Goal Information Box will
appear. In this case, you must meet with the
lab assistant. To do so, you must click on
his body.
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VCell Instructions
Reference information about organelles, etc. is
available through the Information pull-down
menu.
Instructions from The Lab Guy and communication
messages from other players are displayed in
the User to User communication box.
You may communicate with other players by Typing
messages into the communication box.
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Transporting from One Place to Another
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.
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Performing Experiments
Fly around organelles and perform experiments
Experimental Results
To perform experiments you must select the assay
action from the Action pull-down menu. Then
choose an assay for the item for which you wish
to test. Once you have done this, you must
click on an organelle to perform the experiment.
In this case the player is testing
for chlorophyll.
Choose actions here
Choose assays here
You may also type your own notes.
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Deduction of Organelle Identity
Successful identification based on experimental
results
To identify an organelle you must select the
identify action from the Action
pull-down menu. Then choose an object for the
item for which you wish to test. Once you have
done this, you must click on an organelle
to identify the organelle. in this case the
player has identified the chloroplast.
Choose identify action here
Choose organelle to identify here
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Guessing Not Allowed
Appropriate experiments are required for
identification.
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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.
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New Level Instructions
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
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Educational Role-playing GamesLearning-by-doing
Experiences
Information for Instructors

• MultiUser
• Exploration
• Spatially-oriented virtual worlds
• Practical planning and decision making

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Educational Role-playing GamesLearning-by-doing
Experiences

• Problem solving
• Scientific method
• Real-world content
• Mature thinking

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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

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Technical Approaches

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

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The VCell VRML Worlds The Cell The Laboratory
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The Virtual Cell
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The Laboratory
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Mitochondrial Function Electron Transport Chain
Animation Mission
ETC Membrane Complexes
Molecules in motion
Molecule Key
http//www.ndsu.nodak.edu/ndsu/abergstr/vcell/rox/
july27/600p4c.wrl
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Chloroplast Function Photosynthasis Mission A
Work in Progress
User in Sub shoots photons to activate
photosynthesis
Photosystem Complexes
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Assessment

• Not multiple choice recall
• Content specific
• Problem solving, hypothesis formation, deductive
  reasoning

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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

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