Material Detail

In this activity, by the Concord Consortium's Molecular Literacy project, students learn the "necessary conditions for self-assembly (random motion and molecular stickiness), play with some example models of self-assembling biological structures (quartenary structures such as hemoglobin, fibers, and microtubules), and then design their own self-assembly structures." Upon completion of this activity students should be able to identify and manipulate two key characteristics of molecules that allow them to self assemble; describe the effect of temperature on self-assembly; and give examples of the effect of molecular shape on the larger structures built by self-assembly. The activity itself is a java-based interactive resource built upon the free, open source Molecular Workbench software. In the activity, students are allowed to explore at their own pace in a digital environment full of demonstrations, illustrations, and models they can manipulate. In addition to the activity, visitors will find an overview of the activity, a test and rubric, central concepts, and their correlation to AAAS standards.

Disciplines:

• Science and Technology  / Instructional Design and Technology