This site presents a concise and accurate view of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. The bulk of the site consists of an intermediate level description of the cycle and a diagrammatic representation. It also presents quality references for further reading.
Type of Material:
This site has a quality illustration of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle and a text-based description.
Recommended Uses:
This is an encyclopedia of chemistry topics, and thus serves as a reference. Students might find it useful for understanding the Calvin cycle.
Technical Requirements:
This site requires a web browser and the ability to view images.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
None stated. However, users will learn about the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle and key molecules therein such as RUBISCO.
Target Student Population:
The information is mostly in the high school or undergraduate student level.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic biochemistry knowledge.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The content is basically accurate.
There is an excellent graphic, taken from Wikipedia under a Creative Commons copyright
The subsections of the article are useful dividing the process into phases
Concerns:
There are minor mistakes (e.g. stoma rather than stroma, rubisco is called ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase) and misspellings
Some unusual uses of terms are found in the article (e.g. adding Bassham to the name of the cycle, referring to photosynthesis as only the light reactions, etc.)
The cycle could be evaluated further in the diagram and have a more comprehensive explanation, perhaps as a separate page, for the more learned scholar.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
This is an effective overview and description of this process, with the enzymes named and the pathway described in good detail
The content can be edited by UC Davis faculty and students, although it appears that anyone can register for an account
The layout is quite nice
There are links to related and complementary material
Concerns:
The text could use some editing to make it more useful to the user.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Site loads quickly and is straightforward
Information is presented logically and follows from the diagram
Information is easy to understand
Navigation is intuitive
Concerns:
Video link is broken
Other Issues and Comments:
no additional comments.
Creative Commons:
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