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Peer Review

Welcome to the Rainforest

Reviewed:

Jun 24, 2011 by Biology
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 4.0 stars
Content Quality: 4.0 stars
Effectiveness: 3.8 stars
Ease of Use: 4.8 stars
Overview:

Welcome to the Rainforest is a fun site to visit and learn about the Amazon Rainforest. Rain-Tree provides information on the ecological, economic and salutary importance of the rainforest and the impact of its destruction on the indigenous people of the region. The site promotes preservation of the South American rainforest through sustainable harvest of the rainforest’s resources with an emphasis on the value of medicinal plants. An excellent tropical plant database is exhibited wherein over a hundred tropical plants are organized according to common name, scientific name, indigenous people’s usage, maladies treated, and medicinal properties demonstrated. A database of articles relating to the medicinal properties of the rainforest plants is provided in addition to a database of research abstracts of clinical studies of medicinal plants. The site also supplies an excellent photo gallery of the plants and animals of the Amazon, indigenous tribes, the Shipibo-Conibo Indians, and many images of rainforest destruction.
Type of Material:

Most of the learning material at this site is provided as text and pictures in HTML and JPEG format.
Recommended Uses:

Much of the information is presented in a manner that is most suitable for individual study. The pictures and other resources may be useful in the classroom to help students understand what can be found in the rainforest. This site should be used as a preliminary or supplementary source of information for a lecture on rainforest ecology or ethnobotany.
Technical Requirements:

This site can be easily browsed using HTML to view text and pictures.
Identify Major Learning Goals:

This site provides users with a greater appreciation of the rainforest conservation and diversity. It will help the general public, students, and instructors understand why rainforests should be preserved. Learning goals include comprehension of the importance of rainforest preservation and appreciation for the ecological and medicinal significance of rainforest plants
Target Student Population:

High school and undergraduate students enrolled in an environmental science, ecology, or ethnobotany course, as well as the general public, can benefit from this site.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

There are no prerequisites for this site and it is presented in a simple manner that can be easily understood by the general public. Instructors and students using this site will understand more of the information presented if they have a basic knowledge of rainforest ecology and botanical terminology.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The content is interesting, but it the pedagological rationale for what is stated is not clear
  • The text is well-written and provides good justification for sustainable use of rainforests
  • Extensive collection of articles and abstracts of clinical studies of medicinal plants
  • Pictures accompanying the site are generally good quality
  • Appropriate links are provided at the end of the home page for this site
Concerns:

  • At the time of this review, the organization and layout were not entirely clear
  • While the information is interesting, more interactive learning objects would greatly enhance the usefulness of the material in the classroom
  • At the time of this review, some of the article links were not active

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • This site provides a positive perspective on how rainforests can be preserved
  • Database effectively exhibits the medicinal properties of tropical plants
  • Much of the material addresses the problems of rainforest destruction and how sustainable practices can help provide solutions
  • Links at the bottom of the website homepage provide good application of material to modern human use
  • Photo gallery effectively demonstrates the varied flora and fauna of the rainforest and provides insight into the indigenous populations way of life
Concerns:

  • Objectives are not clearly stated
  • The learning approach could be improved by including more interactive materials
  • There is not much overlap, though hyperlinks or learning objects, to show how concepts are clearly related

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The information is straightforward
  • Botanical databases are easy to navigate and are well organized
  • Information is easy to understand
Concerns:

  • Articles relating to medicinal plants are not well organized and there are some broken links
Other Issues and Comments:

This is a very good site to provide general information about rainforests and gain an appreciation of the vast resources available in the Amazon Rainforest. The material is presented mostly as text and would benefit from more interactive animations and simulations about the rainforest that can be used in the classroom.
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