This site is a tutorial developed for a specific upper division Ichthyology course taught by the authors. It uses FishBase, a large database containing data searchable by common and scientific name, family, locale, and a wide variety of topics. Among the various data that can be accessed are - distributions, catch data, biodiversity maps, recruitment and characteristics of species including such items as swimming speed, identifying keys, and larval types. The breath of topics and data types is too broad to list in this description. Fish may be studied at the species, family or guild level. There are five lessons covering Evolution and classification; Morphology and biodiversity; Reproduction; Physiology; and Fishes as part of ecosystems. Each includes a brief description of various sub-topics and specific exercises, requiring students to use the database to analyze characteristics such as tropic level and other functional relationships.
Type of Material:
Database/Tutorial
Technical Requirements:
HTML - Cold Fusion
Target Student Population:
Advanced undergraduate or Graduate
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Quality of Content: (5)(5) = 5
Features of Excellence:
Extensive Database
Broad range of information
Excellent quality images, maps, and other materials
Lessons could also be used as units in Ecology
Concerns:
The text could benefit from embedded images, maps, and photos.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool: (5)(5) = 5
Features of Excellence:
Can be effective in teaching a wide range of topics in Ichthyology
Could be used as a research tool for a variety of projects
The tutorial is simple and straight forward
Provides exercises that require students to synthesize and analyze.
Can be used to explore a wide variety of problems
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Usability: (5)(5) = 5
Features of Excellence:
Easy to navigate
Easy to use
Simple and straightforward
Creative Commons:
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