Whether you’re walking with your friends, riding a bike, or sitting down, your cells are constantly adjusting themselves to the environment within your body. One way they adapt to their surroundings is through increasing and decreasing their size, also known as changes in volume. This change in size is believed to be partially controlled by the pericellular matrix (PCM). Although there’s a lot we still don’t know about the PCM, it’s believed to act as a barrier surrounding every cell in our body. However, sometimes the PCM around the cell can get damaged. Without a strong PCM, the cell will have a harder time keeping water inside, and when water leaves the cell volume decreases and it shrinks in size. This is a problem because cells need water function properly. The goal of this design challenge is to construct a sturdy PCM around your cell to prevent water loss when a force is applied.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.
A PowerPoint to assist in presenting information to the students.
A tool to help students record their progress through the design process.