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Background: Animations of scientific concepts may improve comprehension by explaining and visualizing the steps of complex processes, but unless they engage student interest in meaningful ways, their effectiveness as teaching tools is limited. We achieve this through a novel approach to animation design that includes the target audience (undergraduates) so that the resultant animations align with their learner characteristics. Objective: This case study investigated whether undergraduate-generated animations were more effective educational tools than informationally equivalent text-and-illustration presentations and whether learners’ background influenced the relative benefits of animations. Method: Incorporating feedback from faculty and undergraduates, we created animations and text-plus-illustration content to explain how neural signals are generated and measured by scalp electrodes. Neuroscience majors and non-majors were presented with either animations or static presentations followed by comprehension and engagement assessments. Results: Both groups showed comprehension and engagement benefits for animations. Although majors showed better overall comprehension, animations improved comprehension for non-majors over static presentations. Conclusion: When educational content is directed for a target audience, animations can be more effective teaching tools for a broader student audience. Teaching Implications: The relevance of online tools for remote instruction makes animations, developed for and by undergraduates, important tools for effectively introducing difficult content.
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DECOR: The Database of Educational Crystallographic Online Resources, Updates and Prospectus
The Database of Educational Crystallographic Online Resources (DECOR) is the worlds first repository for educational resources for the teaching of crystallography and diffraction. The site, available at decor.cst.temple.edu, permits the sharing and downloading of educational resources such as practice problems, visual aids, animations, and more. The site is currently organized into three basic resource layouts: 1) Resources by Type, where visitors can browse for homework problems, presentations slides, or animations across topics. 2) Resources by Topic, where visitors can look for resources relating to particular subject matter such as the reciprocal lattice, scattering, or symmetry. 3) Links, which sends visitors to other sites that provide convenient resources for crystallographic education. The purpose of the poster is to make attendees aware of this teaching resource, and to present the current state of the site, and plans to upgrade and enhance it in the near future.
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- Award ID(s):
- 1800105
- PAR ID:
- 10187699
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- American Crystallographic Association National Meeting 2020
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Conference Paper:
- The DOI is not currently available.
