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This site is a collection of still images, texts and movies covering the structure and functioning of a typical plant cell. In particular it visualizes the chloroplast (and thylakoids), the mitochondrion (and the cristae) and the nucleus.
Learning Goals:
None stated. Presumed to include learning the structure of a cell.
Target Student Population:
High school or general undergraduate.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Web browser capable of viewing animations. Two types of 3D images are given as options, but the technical requirements to view these are not clear from the site.
Type of Material:
Interactive simulation.
Recommended Uses:
Suitable for online or face-to-face classes.
Technical Requirements:
Web broswer
Evaluation and Observation
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
All information is appears be accurate
The animations and GIF movies illustrate the concepts
Decent quality images and animations. Contains actual EM diagrams. Allows students to click and zoom in on structural elements of a cell.
Concerns:
The site is based on material dating from the 1970s
The site was last updated in 1997
Some terms are out of date in common usage (e.g. Coupling factor ATPase)
The level of detail is low in some areas of the site
The cartoons do not show much detail and not very sophisticated
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Allows some interactivity
Provides views in both cartoon form and as electron microscope images
May still work on some older computers with limited RAM and software
Accurate models and images Allows students to focus on different organelles at their own pace. Text accompanies each image. Could develop assignments based on the images.
Concerns:
Does not emphasize critical thinking or problem-solving
The topics are fragmented, no conceptual context is provided
Some parts of site are broken or slow
Viewing window is small
No questions are included to prompt students to think more deeply about the images or apply their knowledge.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Does not strain most current computers
Instructions are provided
Concerns:
Some links are dead
Very slow to load some images or animations
The navigation is not clear or intuitive
The instructions for use are not clear
There are no buttons for navigation (user must user browser back button)
The images have only rudimentary titles, thus locating oneself within the site is difficult
Other Issues and Comments:
This site was likely cutting edge in its day, but without major updates cannot compete with more recent resources that take advantage of the great strides in digital multimedia and computer technology we have made since the 1990s. This site would mostly be useful to people forced to use very old computer systems.
