Virtual Booth

The ProtoFingers innovation project was developed to improve students’ understanding of oxidative phosphorylation, particularly the movement of protons during cellular respiration. This topic is often considered difficult because it involves several related processes, including the electron transport chain, formation of a proton gradient, and ATP production through chemiosmosis. Many students struggle to visualize these processes as learning materials usually rely on static textbook diagrams. As a result, students find it challenging to determine the direction of proton movement and to understand how ATP is produced, which increases their cognitive load during learning. A preliminary survey showed that students were confused about where protons are pumped, how the proton gradient is formed, and how protons move through ATP synthase. Some students also reported that although they could follow the lecture explanation, they often forgot the process because it was difficult to imagine. To address this problem, the ProtoFingers model was introduced as an innovative teaching approach that integrates physical interaction with simple visualization, known as phygital learning. In this method, students use their fingers to represent components of the electron transport chain and the movement of protons, allowing them to visualize the sequence of events more clearly and participate actively in the lesson. The innovation was implemented among 157 students from Kolej Matrikulasi Labuan. Its effectiveness was evaluated using pre-test and post-test assessments as well as student feedback. The results showed a mean improvement of 53% in post-test scores, and 98% of students recommended using ProtoFingers in future lessons. Overall, ProtoFingers demonstrates strong potential as a simple, cost-free teaching innovation that enhances conceptual understanding and promotes active learning in biology.