01 / 06 · Nano · Classroom · Cross-platform

Putting protein synthesis in students' hands

Company: Lighthaus · 2023
Responsibilities: Creative direction, narrative design, game design, UI/UX, classroom research, art direction

Overview

Nano is a biology experience for high school classrooms leveraging emerging technology and partner work. Half the class shrinks into a cell in VR; the other half runs mission control from a web app.

The project started with a simple thesis: students learn better when their bodies are involved. Physically moving, reaching, throwing, pulling is more memorable than clicking through a diagram. My job as Creative Director at Lighthaus was to build an experience that helped us prove this to be true while teaching protein synthesis to high schoolers across the country.

Results

Meta Best App of 2023 · 4.9★
Required HS biology curriculum, Dallas Public Schools
NIH-funded RCT by WestEd with 1,000 LAUSD students, 500 using Nano
Gains in science confidence, enjoyment and identity

Meta Quest ↗Full story →

Classroom layout sketch with VR and web stations — The room · VR stations + web mission control

PILOT THE MACROPHAGE

PROTEIN GESTURE MENU

Storyboard of the core loop — Core loop storyboard

Robotic hands holding defensin proteins — Defensin proteins

Prototype · organelle labels

Students in a biology classroom, some in headsets, others at laptops — In the classroom