Peer Review

The Sheep Brain Dissection Guide

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: May 31, 2020 by Biology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This is a detailed pdf guide to dissection of the sheep brain

Type of Material:

Tutorial and handout
A detailed step by step pdf that includes a photo of a sagittal section of the sheep brain and a brief quiz

Recommended Uses:

In class, homework, Lab Activity

Technical Requirements:

The resource is accessible in any browser.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Users of this resource are expected to list and describe the principal structures of the sheep brain, and to identify important parts of the preserved sheep brain specimen.

Target Student Population:

AP/gifted, college-level - biology/physiology lab course

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

No specialized skills are required. The materials required are listed at the top of the PDF

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The information is accurate and provides a good basic background about the material
The resource is self-contained and portable, and the format is accessible with many mobile devices
The labeled diagram provides an excellent start for exploring the dissected specimen
The labeling activity provides an assessment of student learning
Links to video clips and other related resources are provided in the page.

Concerns:

There are no images for the external aspects of the sheep brain! Examining these are the first 12 steps, 2/3 of the material!

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The steps are clear and the assessment tool for the internal structures is very nice.
Material is presented in such a way that it can be used in lecture
The resource identifies the learning objectives and provides activities to meet the objectives
The resource provides links to additional resources that enhance the learning experience
The resource builds on prior knowledge
This resource is easy to write assignments for.

Concerns:

This is a very static learning object, which could turn off users who are more attuned to multimedia resources
The labeling activity is passive. Users need to print the page to do the labels

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Easy to download and available as html or pdf format
Information is easy to understand and follow
The step-by-step instructions are clear and provides a logical order in the execution of the desired action
The resource can be used as handouts during lab or lecture sessions
The layout is appealing, the text is concise and easy to read.

Concerns:

There are no images or assessments of the external aspects of the brain

Other Issues and Comments:: This is a short well-written handout that could easily accompany a dissection of a sheep brain in both high school and college Useful especially for activities such as Science Summer Camps for middle school students. It is noted that this resource is CC BY NC SA which means it can be adapted, improved, and shared with others.
Creative Commons: