{"id":5240,"date":"2022-07-16T21:19:10","date_gmt":"2022-07-16T21:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech2\/?page_id=5240"},"modified":"2023-10-04T20:33:06","modified_gmt":"2023-10-04T20:33:06","slug":"bioengineering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/research\/past-projects\/bioengineering\/","title":{"rendered":"Bioengineering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introducing Bioengineering in Kindergarten<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"CRISPEE Promotional Video\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EHMNXvAeVw0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-custom-lineheight\" style=\"line-height:2.18;font-size:19px\">CRISPEE is a tangible tool for young children ages 5-8 to explore the metaphor of a coding language for living organisms. Through a developmentally appropriate tool and curriculum resources, children can explore concepts from bioengineering and gene-editing a. CRISPEE was developed as part of an NSF-funded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/awardsearch\/showAward?AWD_ID=1564019\">Making the Invisible Tangible<\/a> research project (NSF Grant No. 1564018) and pilot-tested at early childhood museums and learning settings around the Greater Boston area from 2017 to 2019. This project is a collaboration between the <a href=\"http:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/\">DevTech Research Group<\/a> at Tufts University and the Wellesley College <a href=\"http:\/\/cs.wellesley.edu\/~hcilab\/\">Human-Computer Interaction Lab<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Doctoral-Candidate-Amanda-Strawhacker-Showing-CRISPEE.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5572\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ted.com\/talks\/amanda_strawhacker_every_6_year_old_needs_to_learn_bioengineering_jan_2019\/details\"><strong>Every 6-year-old Needs to Learn Bioengineering<\/strong><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title\">Research<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\"><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"711\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2018\/02\/DSC00024-1-scaled-1-1024x711.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-929\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2018\/02\/DSC00024-1-scaled-1-1024x711.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2018\/02\/DSC00024-1-scaled-1-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2018\/02\/DSC00024-1-scaled-1-768x533.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2018\/02\/DSC00024-1-scaled-1-1536x1066.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2018\/02\/DSC00024-1-scaled-1-2048x1422.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Bioengineering is a cutting-edge interdisciplinary STEM field at the forefront of scientific progress, combining the fields of engineering and microbiology to create biologically-based solutions to real-world problems. Young children (ages 5-8 years) are at a critical age to explore the world around them through a multidisciplinary lens, and educational advances in other domains (engineering, technology, and computer science) have shown that children as young as age 4 are capable of learning core concepts of bioengineering. In this National Science Foundation-funded project (NSF Grant No. 1564018), DevTech has partnered with Wellesley College\u2019s Human Computer Interaction Lab to develop a suite of tools for ages K-12 to explore foundational concepts of synthetic biology. CRISPEE is a tangible, developmentally-appropriate tool to introduce the youngest children to foundational concepts of bioengineering. Our current CRISPEE prototype is modeled on the real-world CRISPR\/Cas-9 gene editing system, and allows children to play with genetic programs to solve real-world problems using an ethical design lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Publications and Papers:<\/strong> Below is a list of publications related to CRISPEE and bioengineering. For a comprehensive list of DevTech publications, please visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/papers\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"385\">DevTech Publications Page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Doctoral Dissertations on CRISPEE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strawhacker, A. L. (2020) <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/08\/Strawhacker-Dissertation.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"ek-link\">Biodesign Education in Early Childhood: A Design-Research Study of the Tangible CRISPEE Technology and Learning Intervention<\/a>. (Doctoral dissertation). Tufts University, Medford, MA. Order No. 27962318 Tufts University, 2020. Ann Arbor: ProQuest. Web. 2 Aug. 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Research Publications on CRISPEE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strawhacker, A., Verish, C., Shaer, O., &amp; Bers, M. U. (Under Review). <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S2212868920300349?via%3Dihub\" class=\"ek-link\">Designing with Genes in Early Childhood: An exploratory user study of the tangible CRISPEE technology<\/a>.<em> International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strawhacker, A., Verish, C., Shaer, O., &amp; Bers, M. U. (2020, April). Debugging as Inquiry in Early Childhood: A case study using the CRISPEE prototype<a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/08\/AERA-Submission-CRISPEE-Revisions_wc_CLEAN.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\">.<\/a> In K. Mills (chair),<em>&nbsp;Computational Thinking for Science Learning<\/em>. Symposium conducted at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), San Francisco, CA. Conferenced cancelled due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Strawhacker, A., Verish, C., Shaer, O., &amp; Bers, M. U. (2020).&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/ui.adsabs.harvard.edu\/abs\/2020JSEdT..29..319S\/abstract\" class=\"ek-link\">Young Children\u2019s Learning of Bioengineering with CRISPEE: A Developmentally Appropriate Tangible User Interface.<\/a>&nbsp;<em>Journal of Science Education and Technology<\/em>, 1-21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Verish, C., Strawhacker, A. Bers, M. U., &amp; Shaer, O. (2018, March 18-21).&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cs.wellesley.edu\/~hcilab\/publication\/crispee_tei18.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\" (opens in a new tab)\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" class=\"ek-link\"><em>CRISPEE: A Tangible Gene Editing Platform for Early Childhood<\/em><\/a>:&nbsp;<em>Proceedings of the Twelfth&nbsp;International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI)<\/em>, Stockholm, Sweden. New York, NY: ACM.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title\">Curriculum Resources<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\">\n<p>In addition to developing CRISPEE, our team has created pilot curricular resources, including lesson plans with practice recommendations for exploring bioengineering and a storybook to introduce children to the CRISPEE tool, and a series of activities, worksheets, and anchor charts to reinforce key concepts of bioengineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"797\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-12.58.34-PM-797x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-12.58.34-PM-797x1024.png 797w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-12.58.34-PM-234x300.png 234w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-12.58.34-PM-768x986.png 768w, https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/04\/Screen-Shot-2020-04-02-at-12.58.34-PM.png 1104w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2019\/09\/Pilot-CRISPEE-Curriculum.pdf\">Pilot CRISPEE Curriculum<\/a>: A draft of all curricular activities used in the pilot CRISPEE interventions.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title\">Resources<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\">\n<p>Although the CRISPEE prototype is not available outside of Tufts and Wellesley, we have made the construction guide for the latest prototype available to review below. We hope that engineers, designers, and researchers may benefit from this public document, and perhaps even recreate parts of the prototype in their own makerspace or lab setting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2020\/04\/Construction-Guide_CLEAN.pdf\">Experimental CRISPEE Prototype (V. 1): Construction Guide<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title\">Media Gallery<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/biography\/research\/past-projects\/bioengineering\/img_20180221_093216-6\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"212\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Children-in-a-CRISPEE-Classroom.png\" alt=\"Three children look through lenses of a microscope while a teacher assists them.\" class=\"wp-image-5565\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/CRISPEE-Kit.jpeg\" alt=\"The CRISPEE kit includes a curriculum, original storybook, and interactive plush toys\" class=\"wp-image-5568\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The CRISPEE kit includes a curriculum, original storybook, and interactive plush toys<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/The-CRISPEE-prototype-1.jpeg\" alt=\"The CRISPEE prototype at early through advanced design stages.\" class=\"wp-image-5573\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The CRISPEE prototype at early through advanced design stages<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Children-play-with-CRISPEE2.jpeg\" alt=\"Children gather around a table with CRISPEE prototypes on them while teachers help the children.\" class=\"wp-image-5566\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Doctoral-Candidate-Amanda-Strawhacker-Showing-CRISPEE.jpeg\" alt=\"Doctoral Candidate Amanda Strawhacker interviews children using CRISPEE for the first time\" class=\"wp-image-5569\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Doctoral Candidate Amanda Strawhacker interviews children using CRISPEE for the first time<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/The-CRISPEE-collaboration-team-.jpeg\" alt=\"The CRISPEE collaboration involved researchers from Tufts and Wellesley, and collaborators from MIT, the Boston Children's Museum, and the Eliot-Pearson Children's School.\" class=\"wp-image-5564\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The CRISPEE collaboration involved researchers from Tufts and Wellesley, and collaborators from MIT, the Boston Children&#8217;s Museum, and the Eliot-Pearson Children&#8217;s School<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Children-Play-with-CRISPEE.jpeg\" alt=\"Children play with CRISPEE prototypes at a pilot bioengineering camp\" class=\"wp-image-5567\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Children play with CRISPEE prototypes at a pilot bioengineering camp<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Children-in-a-CRISPEE-Class.jpeg\" alt=\"Children in a CRISPEE Camp participate in STEM-themed activities such as this microscope center\" class=\"wp-image-5570\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Children in a CRISPEE Camp participate in STEM-themed activities such as this microscope center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/181\/2022\/08\/Researchers-from-Tufts.jpeg\" alt=\"Researchers from Tufts and Wellesley discuss the next design iteration of the CRISPEE prototype.\" class=\"wp-image-5571\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Researchers from Tufts and Wellesley discuss the next design iteration of the CRISPEE prototype<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title\">Team<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\">\n<p>The CRISPEE research project was first conceived and designed by Prof. Marina U. Bers of Tufts University and <a href=\"http:\/\/cs.wellesley.edu\/~oshaer\/\">Prof. Orit Shaer<\/a> of Wellesley College, as part of the NSF-funded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nsf.gov\/awardsearch\/showAward?AWD_ID=1564019\" class=\"ek-link\">Making the Invisible Tangible<\/a> research project (Grant No. 1564018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Tufts Students, Staff, and Researchers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alejandro Colina-Valeri, Dr. Amanda Strawhacker, Dr. Amanda Sullivan, Anastasia Goulopoulos, Annie Du, Danielle Kong, Edward Futterman, Emily Lin, Isha Patnaik, Maya Kurzman,&nbsp;Meha Elhence, Naomi Durand, Shunta Muto, Soo Bin Yang, and Yeeun Christina Koo<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wellesley Students, Staff, and Researchers:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Anna Loparev, Clarissa Verish, Diana Tosca, Jasmin Davis, Jennifer Otiono, Lauren Westendorf, Margaret Flemings, Michelle Gelberger, and Taina Paredes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Community Partners:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We gratefully acknowledge the facilitators and staff at the at the <a class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org\/\">Boston Children&#8217;s Museum<\/a> (especially the Tech Kitchen exhibit space), as well as the <a class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.tufts.edu\/eliotpearsonchildrensschool\/\">Eliot-Pearson Children&#8217;s School<\/a> and the <a class=\"ek-link\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/research\/makerspace\/\">Eliot-Pearson Early Childhood Makerspace<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introducing Bioengineering in Kindergarten CRISPEE is a tangible tool for young children ages 5-8 to explore the metaphor of a coding language for living organisms. Through a developmentally appropriate tool and curriculum resources, children can explore concepts from bioengineering and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":140573,"featured_media":0,"parent":532,"menu_order":5,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5240","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/140573"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5240"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9526,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5240\/revisions\/9526"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.bc.edu\/devtech\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}