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Peer Review

Human Anatomy Lab

Reviewed:

Sep 17, 2013 by Biology
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 3.8 stars
Content Quality: 3.5 stars
Effectiveness: 3.8 stars
Ease of Use: 3.8 stars
Overview:

  • Human Anatomy – BIO 129 is the anatomy website of a Penn State course entitled Biology 129.
  • This site is a collection of links and images to allow the user to view course specimens and dissections.
  • The materials are presented as a "lab practical" quiz and the correct answers are provided in another page for verification.
  • Modules covered in this site are the Human Skeletal System, the Muscular System of the cat, the Digestive System of the cat, the Circulatory System of the cat, the Urogenital System of the cat, and the Nervous System of the cat, and images of the sheep brain and eye.
  • This site has actual dissection pictures of the cat, sheep brain, sheep eye, human bones, and models of the human kidney, eye and ear.
  • The target audience would be college general education students; however, advanced high school students could also find the site useful.
  • This site will help a students prepare for a practical anatomy laboratory exam.
Type of Material:

  • This is a tutorial containing a collection of images of a cat dissection, sheep brain and eye, human bones, and models of the kidney, eye and ear (human).
Recommended Uses:

  • The site can be used to review information for a lab practical.
  • The site could be used as an online lab session.
  • The site could be used for homework.
  • The site could be used for in class activities.
  • The images could also be used in lectures or on worksheets.
Technical Requirements:

  • The website is accessible on any browser
Identify Major Learning Goals:

  • Students will be able to identify anatomical structures on cat dissections.
  • Students will be able to identify anatomical structures on human bones.
  • Students will be able to identify anatomical structures on the sheep brain or eye.
  • Provides a "lab practical exam" type resource that challenges users to identify specific pinned and labeled structures on dissected specimens and laboratory models.
Target Student Population:

  • Advanced High school
  • College general education
  • Lower division college Biology
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology courses
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

  • An understanding of the basic anatomy of the cat is needed.
  • Familiarity with basic anatomical terms.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The content is valid and accurate.
  • The content is visually appealing
  • The site provides foundational information of the gross anatomy of the cat.
  • The site could be used for online labs.
  • The site could be used as a review for lab practicals.
  • The images could be used in lectures or on worksheets.
Concerns:

  • The site is static and has not been updated since 1998
  • The links to the “Salivary Glands” and “Larynx” do not work.
  • The image in the Male Reproductive System was difficult to see.
  • The terms “Skippy’s tail” and “Skippy’s scrotum” do not need to be used. “Cat’s tail” or “Cat’s scrotum” would be sufficient.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The site could easily be integrated into a zoology or anatomy and physiology course.
  • The site provides direct links to images of pinned and labeled anatomical specimens and models.
  • The pictures and images were high quality and very clear.
  • Labels on the pictures were clear and correct.
  • Provides an excellent and extensive review for a lab practical.
  • Students learn the anatomy by identifying pinned and labeled structures
  • Correct answers are provided for later verification.
Concerns:

  • There has been no improvement on the site since it was first created in 1998
  • There are no objectives listed.
  • The site does not ask the user any questions to promote problem solving skills.
  • Interactivity is limited to page turning and looking up selected views.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • Easy to navigate.
  • The site is self-contained.
  • The images of the specimens and laboratory models are accurately presented.
Concerns:

  • The images are static so younger and more media-savvy students could get turned off and leave the site in favor of the more interactive resources that are currently available.
  • The links to the “Salivary Glands” and “Larynx” do not work.
Other Issues and Comments:

  • The site provides good practice and challenges for learning anatomy.
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