Cranial Nerves is part of a larger site entitled Neuroscience For Kids. This site is a presentation of the 12 cranial nerves. The site provides a table of the cranial nerves, their function(s) and an image of the brain or brainstem of where each cranial nerve is located. The site also provides a section on how to informally test each nerve with a partner. Links to additional activities and an audio button to hear the pronunciation of each nerve complete the site. The site is targeted to high school students and college general education students.
Type of Material:
This site is an interactive tutorial that helps users learn about the cranial nerves.
Recommended Uses:
This site can be used as a preview to the cranial nerves prior to the lecture as in a “flipped classroom” pedagogy. This site can also be used in a lab setting to test the cranial nerves (not clinical testing), or it can be used in the lecture classroom to provide an active learning environment to test the cranial nerves.
Technical Requirements:
This site requires a web browser, java, and sound from a media player.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
After completion of this site, student will be able to:
List the 12 cranial nerves.
Describe the function(s) of each of the cranial nerves.
Give examples of how to informally test each cranial nerve.
Target Student Population:
High school students and college general education students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
There are no prerequisites for this site, although some knowledge of the brain will help in understanding what is presented.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The site covers the foundation of what the cranial nerves are and their function(s).
The content provided in the site is concise.
The site is targeted towards kids, so the content is reduced, but it is accurate.
Concerns:
If using this site for a college level class, more detail such as which extraocular muscles are innervated by CN III, IV and VI would be useful.
Facial nerve, CN VII, also innervates the lacrimal duct and causes tear production.
Glossopharyngeal nerve, CN IX, only innervates one muscle, the stylopharyngeus which is used in swallowing.
The brainstem picture of cranial nerves VII and VIII in the table are both pointing to CN VIII.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
The site is well organized and succinct
The site provides activities in the way of testing each cranial nerve which can be used to engage the students in active learning
It is a good review for use out of class
Concerns:
No learning objectives are listed for the site.
The site is not interactive.
The images and pictures used are difficult to see clearly. Pictures and images should be updated.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
The information is well organized
Site is fast and intuitive
No defective links or major bugs were found
Information is easy to understand
Very easy to navigate to the different major sections of site
Concerns:
The site could be update with new images and figures to be of a higher quality design.
Other Issues and Comments:
No other issues noted at this time.
Creative Commons:
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