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Calvin Cycle (Photosynthesis)

Ratings

Overall Rating:
Content Quality:
Effectiveness:
Ease of Use:

Reviewed:	Jun 06, 2004 by Biology Editorial Board
Overview:	This is a well-done animation of carbon fixation (Calvin Cycle) that is part of a larger site for Cell Biology at Smith College. The animation shows what happens in the stroma as cabon dioxide is added and sugars are produced. It is particularly useful in classroom demonstrations because the animation simplifies the Calvin Cycle into three easy-to-follow steps. Animations from each step are less than 30 seconds in length, and the complete set can be viewed in less than a couple minutes. The information is accurately and clearly presented to show proper stoichiometry and simplified intermediates in the Calvin Cycle.
Learning Goals:	This animation will help students learn major steps of the Calvin Cycle. Students learn the Calvin Cycle as a process rather than as individual steps.
Target Student Population:	High school and undergraduate students will acquire new knowledge from the information presented.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:	Some basic knowledge of general and organic chemistry, as well as an introduction to metabolic reactions will help students to understand the animation. Prior knowledge of the symbols and terminology is needed before the animation is used.
Type of Material:	This is a simple Flash animation with some text describing the process.
Recommended Uses:	This is an excellent learning object that can be used to provide an animated version of the Calvin Cycle in lecture and laboratory settings.
Technical Requirements:	Technical requirements include an Internet browser and Macromedia Flash Player or equivalent.

Evaluation and Observation

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:	Animation is colorful, clearly laid out, and intuitive for learning Material, as an overview of the Calvin Cycle, is complete Depictions of reactions are accurate Counting of ATPs and NADPHs helps understand the process Graphic quality is good and conveys proper message
Concerns:	Some may argue that more steps of the Calvin Cycle should be shown, but as an overview, this animation is appropriate for introductory level courses Certain dynamics are lost because there are no cycling arrows It is not clear when and where sugars are released

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:	Provides a very clear depiction of the Calvin Cycle Demonstrates key features and relationships among intermediates Movement helps capture some of the dynamics of the process Promotes conceptual understanding Enables visual conceptualization of biochemical reactions
Concerns:	It may help to see cycling arrows with sugars spinning off at the key locations

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:	Clear and accurate instructions are provided The animation is well designed and easy to use Animation is divided into 3 parts, making it easy to display individual steps No major bugs or defective links
Concerns:	There should be a link for downloading the Flash Player provided with the animation Some of the steps (particularly step 2) may be easier to follow if they can be stopped, but that probably is not essential for the concept overview Sound may be annoying and there should be an option to turn off sound

Other Issues and Comments:

This is an excellent animation for use in introductory biology classes. It is easy to use, easy to understand and interesting to watch. Although some of the reactions are left out in this overview, the animation shows the most important steps of the Calvin Cycle.

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Peer Review

Calvin Cycle (Photosynthesis)

Ratings

Overall Rating:

Evaluation and Observation

Content Quality

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty