An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology

Mary Webb; Megan Tracey; William Harwin; Ozan Tokatli; Faustina Hwang; Natasha Barrett; Chris Jones; Ros Johnson

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20

An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology

Mary Webb^*, Megan Tracey, William Harwin, Ozan Tokatli, Faustina Hwang, Natasha Barrett, Chris Jones, Ros Johnson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › peer-review

Abstract

This paper reports on a study which investigated whether the addition of haptics (virtual touch) to a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) simulation promotes learning of key concepts in biology for students aged 12 to 13 years. We developed a virtual model of a section of the cell membrane and a haptic-enabled interface that allows students to interact with the model and to manipulate objects in the model. Students, in two schools in England, worked collaboratively on activities, in pairs, designed to support learning of key difficult concepts. These concepts included the dynamic nature of the cell membrane, passive diffusion and facilitated diffusion. Findings from observation of the activities and student interviews revealed that students were very positive about using the system and believed that being able to feel structures and movements within the model assisted their learning. Results of pre- and post-tests of conceptual knowledge showed significant knowledge gains but there were no significant differences between the haptic and non-haptic condition.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers
Editors	Don Passey, Rosa Bottino, Cathy Lewin, Eric Sanchez
Publisher	Springer New York LLC
Pages	197-206
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Print)	9783030235123
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2019
Event	IFIP TC3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018 - Linz, Austria Duration: 24 Jun 2018 → 28 Jun 2018

Publication series

Name	IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology
Volume	524
ISSN (Print)	1868-4238
ISSN (Electronic)	1868-422X

Conference

Conference	IFIP TC3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018
Country/Territory	Austria
City	Linz
Period	24/06/2018 → 28/06/2018

Keywords

Cell biology
Haptics
Science learning
Virtual reality

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20

Cite this

Webb, M., Tracey, M., Harwin, W., Tokatli, O., Hwang, F., Barrett, N., Jones, C., & Johnson, R. (2019). An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology. In D. Passey, R. Bottino, C. Lewin, & E. Sanchez (Eds.), Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers (pp. 197-206). (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 524). Springer New York LLC. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20

Webb, Mary ; Tracey, Megan ; Harwin, William et al. / An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology. Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers. editor / Don Passey ; Rosa Bottino ; Cathy Lewin ; Eric Sanchez. Springer New York LLC, 2019. pp. 197-206 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology).

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abstract = "This paper reports on a study which investigated whether the addition of haptics (virtual touch) to a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) simulation promotes learning of key concepts in biology for students aged 12 to 13 years. We developed a virtual model of a section of the cell membrane and a haptic-enabled interface that allows students to interact with the model and to manipulate objects in the model. Students, in two schools in England, worked collaboratively on activities, in pairs, designed to support learning of key difficult concepts. These concepts included the dynamic nature of the cell membrane, passive diffusion and facilitated diffusion. Findings from observation of the activities and student interviews revealed that students were very positive about using the system and believed that being able to feel structures and movements within the model assisted their learning. Results of pre- and post-tests of conceptual knowledge showed significant knowledge gains but there were no significant differences between the haptic and non-haptic condition.",

keywords = "Cell biology, Haptics, Science learning, Virtual reality",

author = "Mary Webb and Megan Tracey and William Harwin and Ozan Tokatli and Faustina Hwang and Natasha Barrett and Chris Jones and Ros Johnson",

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doi = "10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20",

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booktitle = "Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers",

note = "IFIP TC3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018 ; Conference date: 24-06-2018 Through 28-06-2018",

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Webb, M, Tracey, M, Harwin, W, Tokatli, O, Hwang, F, Barrett, N, Jones, C & Johnson, R 2019, An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology. in D Passey, R Bottino, C Lewin & E Sanchez (eds), Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers. IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology, vol. 524, Springer New York LLC, pp. 197-206, IFIP TC3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Linz, Austria, 24/06/2018. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20

An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology. / Webb, Mary; Tracey, Megan; Harwin, William et al.
Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers. ed. / Don Passey; Rosa Bottino; Cathy Lewin; Eric Sanchez. Springer New York LLC, 2019. p. 197-206 (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology; Vol. 524).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference paper › peer-review

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AU - Webb, Mary

AU - Tracey, Megan

AU - Harwin, William

AU - Tokatli, Ozan

AU - Hwang, Faustina

AU - Barrett, Natasha

AU - Jones, Chris

AU - Johnson, Ros

PY - 2019/1/1

Y1 - 2019/1/1

N2 - This paper reports on a study which investigated whether the addition of haptics (virtual touch) to a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) simulation promotes learning of key concepts in biology for students aged 12 to 13 years. We developed a virtual model of a section of the cell membrane and a haptic-enabled interface that allows students to interact with the model and to manipulate objects in the model. Students, in two schools in England, worked collaboratively on activities, in pairs, designed to support learning of key difficult concepts. These concepts included the dynamic nature of the cell membrane, passive diffusion and facilitated diffusion. Findings from observation of the activities and student interviews revealed that students were very positive about using the system and believed that being able to feel structures and movements within the model assisted their learning. Results of pre- and post-tests of conceptual knowledge showed significant knowledge gains but there were no significant differences between the haptic and non-haptic condition.

AB - This paper reports on a study which investigated whether the addition of haptics (virtual touch) to a three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality (VR) simulation promotes learning of key concepts in biology for students aged 12 to 13 years. We developed a virtual model of a section of the cell membrane and a haptic-enabled interface that allows students to interact with the model and to manipulate objects in the model. Students, in two schools in England, worked collaboratively on activities, in pairs, designed to support learning of key difficult concepts. These concepts included the dynamic nature of the cell membrane, passive diffusion and facilitated diffusion. Findings from observation of the activities and student interviews revealed that students were very positive about using the system and believed that being able to feel structures and movements within the model assisted their learning. Results of pre- and post-tests of conceptual knowledge showed significant knowledge gains but there were no significant differences between the haptic and non-haptic condition.

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SN - 9783030235123

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PB - Springer New York LLC

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Y2 - 24 June 2018 through 28 June 2018

ER -

Webb M, Tracey M, Harwin W, Tokatli O, Hwang F, Barrett N et al. An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology. In Passey D, Bottino R, Lewin C, Sanchez E, editors, Empowering Learners for Life in the Digital Age - IFIP TC 3 Open Conference on Computers in Education, OCCE 2018, Revised Selected Papers. Springer New York LLC. 2019. p. 197-206. (IFIP Advances in Information and Communication Technology). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-23513-0_20

An Investigation of the Impact of Haptics for Promoting Understanding of Difficult Concepts in Cell Biology

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