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| Reviewed: |
Sep 16, 2005 by Biology Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
Animal Physiology/Homeostasis is one of a series of interactive web-based lessons designed to give introductory undergraduate biology students opportunities to connect biology concepts. Each lesson is a series of screens that breaks the topic down into simple steps and then illustrates the connections between the steps to present the completed concept or process. An understanding of homeostasis is essential to understanding physiology of all living organisms; this site can be used as a supplement to the lecture to allow students to review the topic at their own pace and as many times as desired. It is divided into three lesson topics that lead the student through an intuitive and interactive approach to understanding how homeostasis works using examples that are relevant to students and/or their families. A very good help screen is provided to help students use the lessons. This tutorial/simulation consists of three topics. In topic 1, students learn how blood glucose, pH, and other variables are maintained at stable levels by homeostasis, and what conditions result from imbalances in the variables. Students follow Ben, a fellow student, through a bad day in which they interpret Bens physiological reactions and determine how his organs and organ systems will interact to restore his homeostasis. Students encounter realistic, yet humorous situations that lead to changes in Bens blood pressure, pH, glucose, osmolarity, and body temperature. They then select the appropriate physiological inputs that will restore Bens homeostasis in each situation. In topic 2, students dive deep inside Ben to learn how messenger molecules of the nervous and endocrine system were working to carry signals throughout Bens body to restore his homeostasis in the previous topic. Students 1) step through animations of signaling between nervous and endocrine systems and target organs,
learning which signals are fast and which are slow; 2) label events in a signal relay between the brain, pituitary gland, and kidney; and 3) classify descriptions of neurotransmitters or hormones based on properties such as receptor specificity and delivery to target organs. In topic 3, students learn about negative feedback regulation of glucose and play the role of doctor to determine if Ben has diabetes. Students will: 1) learn about symptoms and causes of diabetes; 2) step through an animation depicting feedback regulation by insulin; and 3) exercise their clinical thinking skills by completing a case study in which they examine Bens symptoms and family history of diabetes, interpret the result of his glucose tolerance test, and answer his questions about his condition and treatment options. |
| Learning Goals: |
The major goal of this lesson is to help students understand how homeostasis and the feedback mechanisms that control much of homeostasis work. Each of the three lesson topics addresses portion of the larger process and contains specific learning objectives. |
| Target Student Population: |
High school (AP level) through college. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Basic physiology |
| Type of Material: |
Tutorial |
| Recommended Uses: |
This site could be used in many ways. 1. As the basis of a classroom lecture presentation. 2. As an out-of-class assignment before the topic is covered in class. 3. As a study tool for students after topic is presented in class. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Flash 6.0 |
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| Strengths: |
- Excellent application of basic physiology and neurology concepts to solve realistic homeostasis problems.
- Contains a collection of nice flash animations that the students view, and then use interactively to answer fundamental physiological questions.
- Would be well suited for a physiology course.
- Site is highly interactive with numerous answers to be filled in by student.
- Questions asked throughout lessons help student get feedback on understanding of concepts/process
- Animations clearly connect the different parts of each process into a coherent whole.
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| Concerns: |
- Homeostasis Times exercise is a bit confusing at first, it will challenge even some bright students.
- Feedback referred to should specifically state that it is negative feedback.
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
- Excellent tool for students to review concepts covered in class. Plenty of formative and summative questions for students to apply their knowledge.
- A nice combination of theory, animations and interactive tutorials.
- It would be easy to make assignments based on the tutorial, and integrate these into exam questions or a problem set.
- Concepts taught in a story/game playing mode; easier to comprehend and retain.
- Use of diabetes in a student both clarifies the types of disease and makes story more relevant to students.
- Clearly demonstrates relationships between elements of each concept.
- The site can be used in several ways: as a direct teaching tool in a distance learning course, as a lecture outline, as a review and study tool for students after topic covered in class.
- Some of the questions asked will be challenging for introductory students.
- Completion of plans for links to assessments and image/animation data bases will greatly enhance the usefulness of the site.
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| Concerns: |
- Some of the topics would be challenging for introductory biology students unless the course covered a fair amount of physiology, for example, the students need to know the functions of several organs.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
- Very well organized, allowing students to move from topic to topic, or within a topic. The different topics are identified on the first page.
- Links are active, graphics high quality, loads and plays quickly.
- Instructions generally clear, especially when manipulating components and entering animations.
- Instructors manual available; summarizes the contents of each of the lesson topics.
- Glossary available for selected terms.
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| Concerns: |
- No source code available for modification or re-use.
- An overall site map might help, students could be confused on where they are if they aren't going through the entire sequence.
- Topic one (1) needs more clarification on what student is expected to do.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
This series of lessons has outstanding potential for use by faculty and students everywhere. The concepts are broken down to simple parts and then reassembled by an interactive process and animations into a whole. The interactivity and intuitive nature of this lesson make it easy for student to follow the story and learn about homeostasis. |
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