The NEACT Central Division Meeting will be held on Saturday, 3/29 at the 1858 Townhouse in Sherborn, MA. Check-in will start at 8:30 am and the session will start at 9 am.
Our presenter is Dr. Didem Vardar-Ulu, senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry at Boston University. Dr. Vardar-Ulu will be presenting on two topics: Seeing Science: Building Visual Literacy Skills Across STEM (K-12+) and Interactive Learning in STEM: Enhancing Molecular Visualization with Authentic Data Resources and Augmented Reality
Session 1: Seeing Science: Building Visual Literacy Skills Across STEM (K-12+)
In science classrooms, students often encounter complex molecular images, but how many can truly "see" what these visuals represent? Just as doctors must interpret x-rays, science students need to decode visual representations to understand concepts, think critically about data, solve problems independently, and communicate effectively across disciplines. Unfortunately, visual literacy is rarely taught explicitly, leading to struggles as students move from K-12 to college, especially as scientific materials become more complex. This gap can hinder their understanding of structure-function relationships, problem-solving, and communication.
In this session, we’ll explore the importance of visual literacy in science education and how it can be integrated into your curriculum. Drawing on insights from the BioMolViz project and classroom-tested strategies, we’ll discuss the gap between how instructors and students interpret visuals and how to address it. We’ll also emphasize the importance of building these skills early, so students understand not only how to interpret images but also how they are constructed, what they represent, and why they matter.
Whether you teach biology, chemistry, physics, or other fields, this session will provide practical strategies to support your students' visual literacy journey. Join us for a discussion on how to help foster deeper scientific understanding.
Session 2: Interactive Learning in STEM: Enhancing Molecular Visualization with Authentic Data Resources and Augmented Reality
In today’s world, where AI-generated content is increasingly prevalent, students must develop critical skills to analyze and interpret scientific data, especially molecular images. They need to engage with real-world content and build a deep understanding of structure-function relationships rather than blindly accept information. In this session, we’ll explore how open educational resources (OERs) like the “Box of Lessons” (BOL) and Molecular Case Studies (MCSs) provide students with opportunities to work directly with authentic biomolecular data, strengthening their 3D molecular visualization skills.
The BOL offers ready-to-use materials, utilizing resources like the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and PubChem to help students explore molecular structures and biological processes, fostering bioinformatics and molecular visualization skills. MCSs further enhance this learning by using real data to weave narratives that connect molecular structure with function, deepening student engagement with complex scientific concepts.
Augmented Reality (AR) complements both BOL and MCSs by providing interactive 3D visualizations of molecules. AR enables students to manipulate and explore molecular structures, enhancing their understanding in ways that traditional methods cannot.
Attendees will leave with strategies to integrate these resources into their courses, promoting critical thinking, science communication, and 3D molecular visualization skills.
