Building KiMoSin : design requirements for kinetic interfaces in protein education

Design guidelines for tools to enhance protein education are developed and applied to a prototype tool. A literature search and personal experience suggest kinetic, tangible models fill the current gaps in protein education. Thirty-six personal interviews with biology instructors and students set a mandate for three design guidelines for appropriate kinetic, tangible tools. The guidelines - simplicity, accuracy, and intuition - form a simple mantra to guide protein education tool design. The guidelines are then used to develop the prototype of an educational model of kinesin, a simple and vital motor protein. Application of these guidelines should result in design that provides students an interactive medium to discover the world of proteins. The prototyped kinesin model, nicknamed KiMoSin, shows promise of fulfilling that goal.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Brown, Ashlie (Ashlie M.)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• David Gossard.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/40396

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/40396