ICELL: an interactive web resource for simulation-based teaching and learning in electrophysiology training

An interactive cell modeling resource, iCell, was developed for computational modeling of cellular bioelectric activity. Electrophysiology research projects were integrated into education and training at the iCell web site (http://ssdl.bme.nieniphis.edu/icell). iCell is used as a simulation-based teaching and learning tool for electrophysiology. The site consists of JAVA applets representing models of various cardiac cells and neurons, and provides simulation data of their bioelectric activities at single cell level. Each JAVA-based model allows the user to go through menu options to change model parameters or conditions, run and view simulation results. iCell has been used as a teaching and learning tool for four graduate courses at the Joint Biomedical Engineering Program of University of Memphis and University of Tennessee. Scientists from the fields of biosciences, engineering, life sciences and medicine in 13 different countries have also tested and utilized iCell as a simulation-based teaching, learning and collaboration environment.