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Peer Review

Introductory Animal Physiology, 2nd edition

Reviewed:

Feb 22, 2023 by Biology
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.8 stars
Content Quality: 4.8 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 5.0 stars
Overview:

This book is an introduction to the diversity of structure and function in animals at the tissue and organ system level. The focus of this book is on principles and mechanisms that sustain life and maintain homeostasis, including water balance, gas exchange, acquisition and transport of oxygen and nutrients, temperature regulation, electrical and chemical signal transmission, sensory processing, and locomotion. The content in this open textbook was adapted from other open textbooks (cc by 4.0) resources and edited or created by Sanja Hinic-Frlog, Jessica Hanley, and Simone Laughton. In addition, this open resource is a living document continually edited by students, faculty, and staff at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Type of Material:

Open (Access) Textbook

Recommended Uses:

  • Reading Material - Homework
  • Individual - Presentation
  • Team - Collborative learning and then collective learning.
  • Lecture - Teaching Material as a supplementary textbook

 

Technical Requirements:

Standard Internet browser

Identify Major Learning Goals:

  • Students will learn what is vertebrate and invertebrate physiology.
  • Students will be able to explore the various types of physiological system - respiratory system, circulatory system, digestive system, locomotion, nervous and excretory system.
  • Students will be able to apply the knowledge and skills to explain the concept and context behind each physiological system.
  • Student will be able to explain why physiological regulations are important for human body to adapt.
  • Students will understand the role played by physiological process in ecological interactions - adapting & responding to biotic and abiotic factors
Target Student Population:

College General Ed, College Lower Division

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

  • Familiarity with basic Biology vocabulary
  • Student - previous experience of learning by reading - Opex stax type textbooks.
  • Professor - previous experience of utilizing textbook for purpose of teaching.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The presentation of materials is clear and concise
  • The information is accurate and provides a good basic background about the material
  • At the time of this review, content of material is accurate and up to date
  • The topics are well-organized and informed by scholarship
  • Links to primary resources are embedded in the text, making it easy to follow-up on information sources.  
Concerns:

  • The chapters name should be the names of systems to make connections between organ system level of organization.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • Each chapter is introduced by a question that serves as the learning objectives and allows the reader to pause and take stock of what they will be learning in the chapter.
  • Reiew questions are presented throughout the narrative, so students are engaged
  • Multimedia links (podcast, videos, print articles) are provided
  • Readers get immediate feedback on most of the quiz questions
  • Providing an index and instructions on how to use it let students go to the desired material without scrolling through the pages.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The material is logically presented
  • The resource is accessible with any standard Internet browser
  • Very easy to navigate to the different major sections of site
  • Information is easy to understand
Concerns:

  • none
Other Issues and Comments:

  • The inclusion of links to primary sources is a nice addition and will make researching the topic more convenient.
  • Presentation slides for purpose of teaching.
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