MERLOT - Multimedia Education Resource for Learning and Online Teaching
 
advanced search materials‎|advanced search members‎|search other libraries
Home Communities Learning Materials Member Directory My Profile About Us

Peer Review

Become a Member | Log In

Connecting Concepts: Animal Physiology/Signal Transduction 3: Implications in Human Health

by Jan Cheetham , Robert Jeanne
 

Ratings

Overall Rating:

 4.6 stars
Content Quality: 4.9 stars
Effectiveness: 4.9 stars
Ease of Use: 4 stars
Reviewed: Nov 01, 2005 by Biology Editorial Board
Overview:

Animal Physiology/Signal Transduction—Implications for Human Health is the third in a series of interactive web-based lessons designed to give introductory undergraduate biology students opportunities a better understanding of how signals from one part of body get to another to regulate activities on both a cellular and whole organism. This topic 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. This topic addresses how interference with signal transduction pathways impacts human health. The topic of hormone mimics in the environment is a timely one; the evidence that it causes endometriosus is both interesting and a good illustration of how science works. The concepts are clearly handled at a macro and intracellular level. A very good help screen is provided to help students use the lessons. The larger site containing the entire series will be very useful at the introductory level
Learning Goals:

The major goal of this lesson topic is to help students understand what the health implications are when signal transduction pathways are altered or blocked. The use of dioxin as a molecule in the environment that mimics/interferes with hormone action is excellent.

Target Student Population:

High school (AP level) through college.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Students will need to have a basic understanding of cell structure and function as well as human nervous and endocrine systems.
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:

Use of a current web browser will be required. Macromedia Flash Player 6 plug-in is required.

Evaluation and Observation

Content Quality

Rating: 4.9 stars
Strengths:

  • An interesting approach to teaching signal transduction, first letting students see the goal in an abstract way through pool balls, and then going into the cellular details.
  • Challenging physiological examples will keep even bright students on their toes.
  • High quality animations with interactive questions asking students to explain what is happening at each step.
  • Animations clearly connect the different parts of each process into a coherent whole.
Concerns:

  • Some animations are fairly small, might be difficult for some students to see what is happening clearly.
  • Last unit on endometriosis is a bit confusing, as there really isn't much visible signal transduction happening. Sticking with an example like insulin might be clearer for students.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating: 4.9 stars
Strengths:

  • Very good use of tutorial animations and formative and summative questions.
  • Initial concepts taught in a story/game playing (pool game) mode; easier to comprehend and retain.
  • Could make assignments based on the tutorial.
  • Would be a good companion to a lecture on signal transduction.
  • Use of real examples (mosquito biting, student fight or flight response, and endometriosis) makes story more relevant to students.
  • Completion of plans for links to assessments and image/animation data bases will greatly enhance the usefulness of the site.
Concerns:

  • Some of the analogies are a bit difficult to follow at first, but the students could figure them out by trial and error.
  • Would require decent background in lecture, most students would get frustrated trying this without enough background.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating: 4 stars
Strengths:

  • Well organized, runs smoothly, no dead links.
  • Instructions generally clear, especially when manipulating components and entering animations.
  • Definitions of components kept constantly available in a drop down box is an excellent idea.
  • Glossary available for selected terms.
Concerns:

  • Small size of some images would make use in the classroom difficult.
  • No source code availble for the flash animations.
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 easier for student to follow the story. Using endometriosis and the concept of environmental chemicals as causes/contributors to disease processes is excellent.
home | communities | learning materials | member directory | my profile | about us
MERLOT is a program of the California State University,
in partnership with higher education institutions,
professional societies, and industry.
Copyright 1997-2013 MERLOT
All rights reserved

Content licensed under
Creative Commons
Questions? Email webmaster@merlot.org - FAQ
--%>