We’re proud to see our DNA Starter Kit© featured in a recent peer-reviewed study published in the Journal of Science Education and Technology. The study, Conceptual Understanding of the DNA Molecule Through Model Building at the Initial Learning Stage by Salvatore G. Garofalo, highlights the power of hands-on learning and underscores what we’ve always believed—physical models make a difference.
In a comparison of three instructional strategies—physical model building, digital model building, and traditional worksheets—students who used physical models (like our DNA Starter Kit®) showed significantly stronger conceptual understanding of DNA. Not only did they perform better immediately after the lesson, but their improved understanding persisted two months later. The study concludes that 3D model manipulation supports deeper learning and that relying solely on quizzes misses how well students actually grasp abstract scientific concepts.
Request a copy of the full article here!