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Peer Review

PBS - The Secret Life of the Brain

Reviewed:

May 31, 2020 by Biology
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.2 stars
Content Quality: 4.8 stars
Effectiveness: 4.8 stars
Ease of Use: 3.8 stars
Overview:

This PBS Series takes a 3D tour of the brain. The episodes each look at the brain during different stages of life: baby, child, teenage, adult and aging. The outreach link includes lesson guides and assignments for use in the classroom.

The modules are clearly listed lesson modules on baby, chind, teenage , adult and aging. The content is rich with text, images and videos for a multidisplinary approach of teaching and learning 

Type of Material:

This site has interactive animation of the human brain that helps users learn about the development of our brain.

Recommended Uses:

  • Home Work for making a Concept Map.
  • Can be used as a resource for creating a Disscussion Forum in classroom.
  • Some modules can be integrated in PPTs for Lecturing.
  • Team Based Learning - Jig Saw and possibility as a Collective Learning Exercise amalgated with Research Articles.

 

Technical Requirements:

This site requires Adobe Shockwave Player and Adobe Flash Player.  There were some difficulties viewing the material at the time of this review and a message indicated that the website is no longer actively maintained.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

  • Students will learn what is Brain.
  • Students will be able to relate and compare various types of social and emotions controlled by brain.
  • Students will be able to analyze outcome of brains of baby, child, teenage, adult and aging.  
  • Students will understand how nervous system responds to changing physiology.
Target Student Population:

High School, College General Ed

High School - Neurobiology for IB and AP Biology.

Early College - Special Topics courses.

College- Unit on Nervous System.

University - Medical Case Study.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

There are no prerequisites for this site, although basic knowledge of human anatomy will help the understanding what is being presented.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The content is well organized for the human systems addressed
  • Material is accurate
  • The information is an accurate and complete
  • Animations are well done and show good detail
  • Material is clearly laid out
Concerns:

  • Content could have divided into presentations instead of essays.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The learning experience is interesting
  • This is a unique way of learning
  • Information provided helps students understand the relatedness of the topics
  • Narrations help users focus on key concepts
  • Material is engaging and interesting
Concerns:

  • Clicker questions can be integrated after each episodes to assess learning and understanding.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The information appears to be well organized
  • Easy to navigate the materials that are available
Concerns:

  • There were problems accessing many of the materials at the time of this review and a message displays that the website is no longer actively maintained
  • The videos were not functional at the time of this review
Other Issues and Comments:

  • This was a great website when all components were working.  The authors should be encouraged to update the site so that the material can be used.
  • The side links can be integrated as click and learning types tabs.
  • Add some research articles and links to research labs working on these episodes.
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