The Virtual Cell Project
Phillip McClean
Alan White
Brian Slator
North Dakota State University
Details of the VCell
•Interface
•Game Play
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You may also type your
own notes.
Choose assays
here
Choose actions
here
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 organelle
to identify here
Choose identify
action here
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
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
Information for Instructors
Educational Role-playing Games
“Learning-by-doing” Experiences
• MultiUser
• Exploration
• Spatially-oriented virtual worlds
• Practical planning and decision making
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 Cell
The Laboratory
The Virtual Cell
The Laboratory
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
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