Elemental Cubes is an innovative educational project that brings the periodic table to life using Sifteo cubes. By combining physical blocks with digital displays and interactive features, Elemental Cubes transforms the study of chemistry into an engaging exploration of the elements and their properties.
Looks amazing right? Scroll down to know more!
Goals
Key Questions We Asked
How can interactive technology improve the understanding of complex chemistry concepts? We sought to explore how interactive tools could make abstract topics like chemical reactions and molecular structures more visual and intuitive for students.
What are the challenges in teaching chemistry with traditional methods, and how can technology address them? We aimed to identify the limitations of traditional teaching approaches, particularly for visualizing molecular bonding and chemical reactions, and determine how technology could enhance learning.
Can physical, tactile interactions improve chemistry education? We questioned whether combining physical interaction with digital tools (like Sifteo cubes) could increase student engagement and make abstract concepts more accessible.
How do existing chemistry tools fall short in explaining reactions and compound formation? We examined current educational tools to identify gaps in simulating real-world chemical processes and aimed to design a solution that better represents dynamic chemical interactions.
Design Process
The project began by us researching current chemistry teaching methods, challenges, and the potential of Sifteo cubes. Initial brainstorming explored how the cubes could represent chemistry concepts like element properties and molecular structures. Early prototypes focused on creating an interactive and intuitive learning experience. After gathering feedback from testing, the design was refined to improve accuracy, interaction, and usability. User testing with students provided valuable insights, leading to a final design that met educational standards and included a reaction mat and an advanced algorithm for simulating chemical reactions.
💡 Me and my teammate had no relation what so ever with the field of chemistry. We spent hours going through Chemistry books to understand the concepts in order to make sure we don't leave any loose ends. 🧪
Ideation
Features
Tactile Interaction with Chemistry: This refers to the hands-on approach to learning where students physically interact with elements using Sifteo cubes, making the study of chemistry more engaging and tangible.
Natural Compound Formation: This feature involves simulating the process of combining elements to form compounds. The interaction shows how chemical reactions lead to the formation of various compounds, helping students visualize molecular changes.
Simulated Chemical Reactions: The cubes enable the simulation of chemical reactions, providing real-time feedback about possible compounds, catalysts, and by-products.
Reaction Mat
The Reaction Mat is a key feature in the Elemental Cubes project. It is designed to streamline the process of simulating chemical reactions between different elements. When elements are placed on the mat, it:
Displays possible compounds that can be formed.
Indicates if a catalyst is required for the reaction.
Shows the by-products of the reaction.
This mat guides students step-by-step through the reaction process, making it easier to understand how different elements interact and what conditions are required for those interactions to happen. It helps make abstract chemical reactions more tangible by using a combination of tactile and visual cues.
Interactions
Users can swipe left or right on the screen to see properties of an element like their atomic structure, their isotopes, allotropes etc.
User can do a rotating gesture to change the isotopes of the element in order to get the element ready for chemical reactions and also to see properties of different isotopes.
If on of the isotopes doesn't exist, the block will vibrate and show that other isotopes don't exist.
You an get two elements close to one another to see a reaction happening between them. Once the new compound is formed you can easily perform a pouring gesture to transfer the compound to a single cube as shown in the image.
For elements that are not reactive with one another, the blocks push each other away and viberate to show that the reaction is not possible.
User Testing - Teachers
User Testing - Students
Challenges and Limitations
Despite the product's success in engaging students, several challenges were identified:
Learning Curve: Both educators and students need time to familiarize themselves with the technology, its functions, and how best to use it in the classroom.
Content Limitations: The cubes’ limited interface restricts the ability to cover more advanced or specialized chemistry topics.
Technical Issues: Potential software glitches and technical disruptions could affect the overall learning experience.
Key Learnings from the Elemental Cubes Project
Hands-On Learning Drives Engagement Letting students physically interact with the cubes made chemistry feel real and fun, drawing them into the learning process.
Making Learning a Game Sparks Curiosity Turning chemistry into interactive challenges got students excited to explore and discover, making tough concepts more approachable.
Feedback and Iteration Make All the Difference Listening to users and adjusting the design based on their input helped us create something that was not only functional but truly valuable for learning.
Tech Needs to Be Simple and Intuitive We learned that cool technology means little if it's too complicated to use. Balancing innovation with ease of use was key to success.
Instant Feedback and Tailored Learning Matter Seeing immediate results from their actions helped students understand concepts better, and we realized that adapting the content to their needs is crucial for keeping them engaged and progressing.
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