Molecular Biology Meets the Learning Sciences: Visualizations in Education and Outreach

Scientific visualizations (illustrations, three-dimensional models, animations, simulations, etc.) play an essential role in biology education, particularly when it comes to communicating phenomena occurring at the submicroscopic levels, beyond the level of unaided observation and without comparable counterparts at the macroscopic level. Students struggle with understanding the sizes of cells, molecules, and atoms in relation to one another as well as differentiating between the various time scales within which each of these levels is functioning. Visualizations can be powerful tools of intuition, playing a critical role in transforming the way students think about the scientific realm. However, a greater understanding of how the design features and affordances of different visualization modalities support learning is required if we are to provide pedagogically impactful experiences. [Display omitted] •This review examines the visualization modalities used to communicate molecular science, particularly in formal education•A discussion of 2D, 3D, static, dynamic, and interactive representation highlights the role of each in fostering understanding•Biology students lack the visual literacy skills necessary to interpret the visualizations to which they are exposed•Here, the design of the visualization can play an enormous role in either supporting or hindering understanding•The adoption of scientific visualization in education requires the establishment of a formal system for vetting credibility