SBIR-STTR Award

Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media Science and STEM education requires more effective tools that will engage student attention, challenge them to think critically, and help them learn critical science literacy concepts to create a stronger workforce and citizenry. The primary objective of the project Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media, is to transport students further into the molecular world by developing augmented reality (AR) modules that seamlessly extend the value of 3D Molecular Designs' (3DMD) models. With 3DMD AR, students will engage with 3DMD's models in a new way, intuitively navigating at their own pace and constructing their own knowledge while being guided by seamlessly integrated interactive digital media. Immersed in the intrinsic dynamics of molecular structures, they will manipulate the physical model - moving, rotating, adjusting - while digital features move in concert revealing new layers of complexity. 3DMD AR will allow educators to engage more students at middle school, high school, and undergraduate levels by piquing their interest with cutting edge technology and game-based learning applications. The addition of AR features to these instructional materials will not only expand the range of molecular concepts that can be taught with each modeling kit, but will also engage a broader range of today's students from both economically disadvantaged schools and remote learning environments. 3DMD AR has broad STEM commercial and educational potential. The augmented reality modules described in this proposal can be deployed with any smart mobile device (phone or tablet), making 3DMD AR accessible to a wide range of schools and budgets. Phase I of the project will focus on the feasibility of using augmented reality with our current physical models. The Specific Aims of the project are: 1. Test the feasibility of augmented reality software to identify and track the movement with 3DMD's five types of physical models: 2D-printed graphics, die-stamped foam, plastic injection-molded molecules, 3D-printed proteins, and a flexible foam-covered modeling wire (mini toober). 2. Focusing one type of physical model - injection-molded water molecules - 3DMD will test the feasibility of augmented reality software to: overlay a variety of types of digital media, allow user actions to trigger responses from the AR software, and determine optimal techniques to interact with physical models and digital devices. By following an internal process of iterative design, the research team will test augmented reality targeting techniques to identify and track physical models. After targeting is achieved, the team will continue this process to develop digital overlays, trigger responses, and ergonomics. The Education Advisory Group will inform the research team of the most useful content to augment the physical models and critique the initial usability of the applications.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
Project Narrative Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media The research described in this Phase I proposal will explore the use of augmented reality (AR) media to enhance the learning power of physical models of molecular structures. Combining physical modeling with AR, 3D Molecular Designs plans to meet students in their own digital world utilizing students' devices, engaging and challenging them with STEM bioscience content to construct their understanding of molecular processes that impact our lives, resulting in a populace with improved science literacy and a better trained workforce.

Project Terms:
Amino Acids; aminoacid; Attention; Biological Sciences; Biologic Sciences; Bioscience; Life Sciences; Budgets; Cells; Cell Body; Critiques; Education; Educational aspects; Goals; Human; Modern Man; Learning; literacy; Molecular Structure; Macromolecular Structure; Movement; body movement; Proteins; Research; Schools; Science; Computer software; Software; Students; Tablets; Technology; Telephone; Phone; Testing; Time; Water; Hydrogen Oxide; ergonomics; improved; Phase; Coronavirus; Coronaviridae; corona virus; Training; Intuition; tool; Filamentous Fungi; Molds; Knowledge; animation; posters; Techniques; 3-D; 3D; three dimensional; 3-Dimensional; Location; interest; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; molecular dynamics; science education; water mold; high school; physical model; remote learning; Distance Learning; Economically Deprived; economic disadvantage; economically disadvantaged; underclass; Economically Deprived Population; Devices; Touch; tactile sensation; Touch sensation; Position; Positioning Attribute; Modeling; response; junior high; middle school; junior high school; model design; Molecular; Process; Text; Development; developmental; digital; design; designing; handheld mobile device; mobile device; usability; iterative design; flexibility; flexible; STEM student; science, technology, engineering and math student; science, technology, engineering and mathematics student; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education; STEM Education; STEM knowledge; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education; science, technology, engineering and math knowledge; science, technology, engineering and mathematics knowledge; undergraduate student; undergrad; undergraduate; 3D Print; 3-D print; 3-D printer; 3D printer; 3D printing; three dimensional printing; genetic information; educational atmosphere; classroom environment; college atmosphere; collegial atmosphere; collegiate atmosphere; education atmosphere; educational environment; intellectual atmosphere; learning atmosphere; learning environment; school atmosphere; school climate; training atmosphere; university atmosphere; Augmented Reality; Game Based Learning; learning materials; class material; course material; curricular material; instructional materials; digital media; Injections; feasibility testing

Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media Science and STEM education require more effective tools that will engage student attention, challenge them to think critically, and help them learn critical science literacy concepts to create a stronger workforce and citizenry. In this Phase II project of Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media, 3D Molecular Designs (3DMD) will transport students further into the molecular world by developing augmented reality (AR) modules that seamlessly extend the value of 3DMD's physical models. With our new product, 3DMD AR, students will engage with 3DMD's existing physical models in a new way, intuitively navigating at their own pace and constructing their own knowledge while being guided by seamlessly integrated interactive digital media (IDM). The augmented reality modules described in this proposal can be deployed with any smart mobile device (phone or tablet), making 3DMD AR accessible to a wide range of schools and budgets. After a successful Phase I that demonstrated the feasibility of using 3DMD's existing models and kits as AR targets, Phase II is designed to test the hypothesis that the enhancement of 3DMD's physical models with AR technology will result in a significant increase in the NGSS DCI learning gain for each activity. 3DMD AR brings multiple innovations into one powerful package. First, 3DMD AR uses augmented reality to maximize the effectiveness of physical models and interactive digital media, while mitigating the limitations of each medium. Second, we ground our AR with meaningful real-world objects - 3DMD's proven effective physical models, giving AR technology a purpose beyond simple engagement. Third, 3DMD AR incorporates personalization, constructivist learning, and collaboration by requiring students to manipulate the physical models to progress through activities. Finally, through 3DMD's custom scripting innovations, 3DMD AR can track and differentiate 3DMD's small models and kit components ranging from .75-1.5" (instead of the recommended 5") that are already in the hands of 1 million students. Phase II will focus on the development of the AR activities, usability, testing, and an educational assessment: Specific Aim 1: Develop 24 modular AR activities that pair IDM with 3DMD's top physical model products. Specific Aim 2: Conduct usability testing of the 3DMD AR application. Specific Aim 3: Evaluate the success of 6 AR activities in meeting NGSS DCI learning objectives. By following an internal process of iterative design, the research team of educators, AR developers, user designers, and science education researchers, will develop, beta-test the activities, and launch the application. The team will then test the usability of the application via moderated and unmoderated usability tests. Finally, 2 activities from each module will be assessed to determine learning gains in high school biology classes.

Public Health Relevance Statement:
Project Narrative Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media Science and STEM education require more effective tools that will engage student attention, challenge them to think critically, and help them learn critical science literacy concepts to create a stronger workforce and citizenry. In this Phase II project of Augmenting the Power of Physical Models with Interactive Digital Media, 3D Molecular Designs (3DMD) will transport students further into the molecular world by developing augmented reality (AR) modules that seamlessly extend the value of 3DMD's physical models. With our new product, 3DMD AR, students will engage with 3DMD's existing physical models in a new way, intuitively navigating at their own pace and constructing their own knowledge while being guided by seamlessly integrated interactive digital media.

Project Terms:
Attention; Biological Sciences; Biologic Sciences; Bioscience; Life Sciences; Biology; Budgets; Control Groups; Education; Educational aspects; Engineering; Feedback; Group Interviews; Learning; Lighting; Illumination; literacy; Molecular Structure; Macromolecular Structure; Persons; Play; Pre-Post Tests; Research; Investigators; Researchers; Research Personnel; Schools; Science; Software; Computer software; Students; Survey Instrument; Surveys; Tablets; Technology; Phone; Telephone; Testing; Textbooks; Translating; Use Effectiveness; Educational Assessment; Custom; base; evaluation/testing; Surface; Phase; teacher; Intuition; Collaborations; tool; Knowledge; Adopted; System; 3-D; 3D; three dimensional; 3-Dimensional; interest; meetings; field based data; field learning; field test; field study; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; molecular dynamics; science education; success; college student; university student; high school; physical model; member; Devices; Modeling; develop software; developing computer software; software development; model design; Apple; Malus domestica; Cell Phone; Cellular Telephone; iPhone; smart phone; smartphone; Cellular Phone; Effectiveness; preventing; prevent; distraction; Address; Cognitive; Molecular; Process; Development; developmental; Instruction; digital; design; designing; innovation; innovate; innovative; handheld mobile device; mobile device; usability; iterative design; Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education; STEM Education; STEM knowledge; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education; science, technology, engineering and math knowledge; science, technology, engineering and mathematics knowledge; High School Student; Secondary School Student; Secondary Student; cognitive load; cognitive burden; Next Generation Science Standards; Augmented Reality; constructivism; constructivist; treatment group; digital media; Android; phase 1 designs; phase I designs