A LEGO Mindstorms Brewster angle microscope

Fernsler, Jonathan; Nguyen, Vincent Q.; Wallum, Alison; Benz, Nicholas; Hamlin, Matthew; Pilgram, Jessica; Vanderpoel, Hunter; Lau, Ryan K. W.

doi:10.1119/1.4991387

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…LEGO® bricks have been used in a number of STEM classrooms with success, notable examples can be found in chemistry (which has the largest and most varied use) 17 biology, 18,19 physics 20 electronics, and engineering 21 . The applications are each unique and have been demonstrated to engage students and cultivate active learning in the classroom.…”

Section: Using Lego® Bricks For Molecular Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

An idea to explore: Augmented reality and LEGO® brick modeling in the biochemistry and cell biology classroom‐two tactile ways to teach biomolecular structure—Function

Agrawal

Austin

2023

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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We present here two accessible ways for enhanced understanding of complex biological structures and their function in undergraduate Biology and Biochemistry classrooms. These methods can be applied for in‐class instruction as well as for remote lessons, as they are cheap, easily available and easy to implement. LEGO® bricks and MERGE CUBE based augmented reality can be applied to make three‐dimensional representation for any structure available on PDB. We envisage these techniques to be useful for students when visualizing simple stereochemical problems or complex pathway interactions.

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Section: Using Lego® Bricks For Molecular Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

An idea to explore: Augmented reality and LEGO® brick modeling in the biochemistry and cell biology classroom‐two tactile ways to teach biomolecular structure—Function

Agrawal

Austin

2023

Biochem Molecular Bio Educ

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“…[ 2 ] Liquid‐handling pipetting robots have been built, [ 3 ] and recently arrays of LEGO syringe drivers have been made for controlled reagent additions to live cells during microscopy imaging. [ 4 ] Microscope bodies, [ 5 ] and optics holders have also been reported. [ 6 ] The modular, reconfigurable format has also served as both inspiration, [ 7 ] and as a substrate for engineering microfluidic systems that can be easily modified and optimised by rearranging bricks in different combinations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and Evaluation of a Low‐Cost LEGO 3D Bioprinter: From Building‐Blocks to Building Blocks of Life

Moukachar

Harvey

Roke

et al. 2023

Adv Materials Technologies

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The development of low‐cost accessible technologies for rapid prototyping of mechanical components has democratised engineering tools for hobbyists and researchers alike. The development of analogous approaches to fabrication of soft‐matter, and biologically compatible materials containing living cells, is anticipated to be similarly enabling across multiple fields of biological research. LEGO toy construction bricks represent low‐cost, precision engineered, and versatile construction materials for rapid prototyping. This study demonstrates construction of a benchtop LEGO 3D bioprinter for additive layer manufacture of a 3D structure containing viable human skin cells within a hydrogel scaffold. 3D bioprinted structures are formed from the deposition of microfluidically generated bio‐ink droplets containing live keratinocyte skin cells, representing components toward an artificial skin model. Fluid flow rates and printer speed, together with bio‐ink gelation rate, determine droplet packing arrangement in the bioprinted structures. The printing of 3D structures containing multiple bio‐inks is demonstrated and live cells are imaged in the resulting bioprints. Fluid delivery can be achieved using LEGO pumps and readily available, or home‐3D‐printed, microfluidic components, therefore avoiding the need for any specialist microfluidic hardware. Build instructions are described to enable easy uptake, modification and improvement by other laboratories, as well provide an accessible platform for learning and education. Affordable, accessible, and easy to use tools for 3D bioprinting are anticipated to open opportunities for a greater number of research labs to work with 3D cell culture and bio‐printed materials, with bioprinting expected to assist in better understanding of disease, contribute to tissue engineering and repair, and enable personalised medicine through the printing of cultured patient cells. The presented approach is not only an easily accessible laboratory tool for bioprinting, but also provides a learning system for mechanical construction, robotics, coding, microfluidics and cell biology, making it a versatile platform for research, education, and science engagement.

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Case study: Perspectives on the use of LEGO® bricks in the biochemistry classroom

Austin

Millar

Christmas

2022

Essays in Biochemistry

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The use of LEGO® bricks in the higher education classroom has increased in the last two decades. This is no different in the STEM classroom and several disciplines, including physics, chemistry, and biology, have all made use of LEGO® bricks in some way to create models for active learning activities. Currently, the discipline to make the greatest use of LEGO® bricks is chemistry; only limited examples exist in biochemistry and the molecular life sciences. Here, we present the use of a LEGO® brick modelling activity in the introductory biochemistry classroom during the teaching of metabolism. We present student comments on the activity and the models that were generated by the students. Additionally, we focus on other instructor and project student-designed models for the teaching of ATP synthesis, gene regulation and restriction digestion. Interestingly, both the gene regulation and restriction digest activities were generated with the help of undergraduate students or recent graduates, by applying a backward design approach. This case study seeks to encourage more molecular life science educators to adopt the use of LEGO® bricks in their classrooms to engage in more active learning.

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A LEGO Mindstorms Brewster angle microscope

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

An idea to explore: Augmented reality and LEGO® brick modeling in the biochemistry and cell biology classroom‐two tactile ways to teach biomolecular structure—Function

An idea to explore: Augmented reality and LEGO® brick modeling in the biochemistry and cell biology classroom‐two tactile ways to teach biomolecular structure—Function

Development and Evaluation of a Low‐Cost LEGO 3D Bioprinter: From Building‐Blocks to Building Blocks of Life

Case study: Perspectives on the use of LEGO® bricks in the biochemistry classroom

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