Effect of a 3-D cell membrane model combined with an interactive online platform on health students' learning of cellular physiology.

Understanding cellular physiology, particularly transport across the plasma membrane, remains a significant challenge for undergraduate health sciences students, as these microscopic processes are inherently difficult to visualize. Innovative teaching strategies, such as three-dimensional (3-D) models, may enhance students' comprehension of these concepts. This study investigated the impact of a 3-D cell membrane puzzle model combined with an interactive online platform on learning about membrane transport. Undergraduate nursing and physical therapy students participated in the activity during a practical class, and learning outcomes were assessed with pre- and posttests, as well as subjective evaluations. The results demonstrated an improvement in students' self-perceived knowledge of the main mechanisms of membrane transport and highlighted the importance of assessing students' knowledge in addition to self-perception. These findings suggest that playful and interactive tools can effectively support the teaching and learning of complex physiological concepts.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Cell membranes are invisible to the naked eye, yet vital to life. For health care students, understanding transport across membranes can be challenging. This study combined a 3-D puzzle model with an online platform to make these processes tangible and easier to grasp. Students who used this interactive approach improved their self-perception of cellular function, showing that playful, hands-on educational strategies can facilitate learning of complex biological concepts and promote greater engagement in the learning process.