“Vertebrate Embryology Course Web Page” is a collection of websites collected and organized by Dr. Anna E. Ross of Christian Brothers University for the Vertebrate Embryology course. The web page is organized into lab units and lecture units. Topics covered include meiosis and gametogenesis, and development of the frog, chick, and pig.
This web page supports an undergraduate course in vertebrate embryology. The page includes numerous links to web resources organized by lecture and lab topics. The lecture material is devoted to human embryology while the lab includes frog, chick, and pig embryology.
Type of Material:
Collection
Recommended Uses:
This website can be used as a complement to an embryology course at the college level. It can also be used as a study aid for students taking embryology courses. Some of the images from the lab can be used in activities in medial and high school setting. They are mostly intended for homework, individual or self-paced use.
This site could supplement an embryology lab or lecture by providing a variety of other sites and resources.
Technical Requirements:
This website can be accessed with the majority of browsers and does not required advanced plug-ins or any other requirements. A portion of the website can only be accessed through the university's network, although the majority of the content is available to all users.
Identify Major Learning Goals:
The purpose of the site is to give an overview of vertebrate embryology. It provides lectures on the development of all the major organs systems and a comparative approach. The lab material provides high quality images of frog, chicken, pig and human embryos.
Students will be able to describe structures and processes of development.
Target Student Population:
The material would be best received by undergraduate students with a introductory biology preparation. Some of the lab components can be used in activities for middle and high school students.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Introductory biology and anatomy are the main requirements for the lecture component of the material. Some knowledge of embryology would be helpful.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The site provides a variety of resources and materials for review.
The site provides core content for embryology.
The main strength of this material is how exhaustive it is.
This is also a great source of resources in embryology.
Concerns:
Does not summarize the concept.
Student may be overwhelmed by the amount of material without proper guidelines.
There is limited pedagogical value in a collection of websites.
Several links were broken so it could not be determined if the related sites were of high quality or accurate.
Overall, poorly organized, especially with lecture units starting with higher numbers and working down to introductory topics.
The main concern about this material is that it is not very easy to navigate due to the sheer amount of material.
Access to some of the content requires a moodle logon which is only available on the CBU campus.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Web links are presented in an organized manner by lab section.
The site provides links to a variety of resources.
The site has the potential to appeal to a variety of learners.
The site is interactive. Learners can determine which links they would like to use.
The lab materials, including the serial sections, are excellent for small classroom projects in embryology and to reinforce concepts.
Concerns:
Does not identify learning objectives.
Does not provide activities to reinforce concepts
Does not provide effective instructors or how to use the site.
Does not provide effective introductions or overviews of the concepts.
There is very little guidance on best ways to use the material other than as a course.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Easy to navigate at the time of this review.
The fact that all the information is organized with links on the first page is helpful.
Concerns:
Several broken links within the site.
The main issue is that the user does not know right away what is accessible with logon only.
It is hard to track what links connect to other materials outside the site.
Creative Commons:
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