![]() |
Product Reviews | ||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks and Presentation Media: Evoluton, Human Evolution, and Genes & Inheritance | |||||||||||||||||||||
![]() |
Peter Anderson, SCHOOL SCIENCE REVIEW, VOLUME 90, NO.332, MARCH 2009. |
||||||||||||||||||||
CD-ROMs also availabie as a bundle £199.95 (with bonus Gene technology CD-ROM) These stand-alone workbooks follow the usual high-quality Biozone format. The quality of the pictures and diagrams is consistently high (though all in black and white). The books all begin with useful explanations of terms used in exams, concept maps for the topic, resource information and a list of references for further reading. They are a modular resource and a further seven titles are available. The books are intended to be used as a source of activities and a set of model answers is provided on CD-ROM with each order. The books are not intended for photocopying and are intended for single use so would have to be purchased in sets by a school or by individual students. As they are very detailed and focus on specific areas of the syllabus, this would represent a major annual investment for a school. However, the quality of the activities is high and always interesting for students (and teachers). The content covered by these three titles is very wide ranging, always covering the basics from all current A-level specifications and well beyond. Any student with a passing interest in any of these areas of biology would certainly find the content very useful. These are high-quality workbooks that go well beyond the narrow confines of the A-level specifications and are highly recommended - I shall certainly be purchasing some of the other titles in the series. The CD-ROMs are a useful accompaniment to the workbooks and contain slides that can be used for classroom presentation. The slides on the discs are of a very high quality and would be a useful addition to any biology department's resources, though at a cost. The presentation files can be placed on the school's intranet and can be edited and customised as desired. PowerPoint handouts can be printed for student use. The discs contain an absolute wealth of information ranging from basic topics through to many areas not covered by A-level specifications. This is a recommended resource if you use PowerPoint and data projection in your A-level teaching. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Evolution | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Natalie Cornwell, SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 23 JAN, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Evolution focuses on what is currently understood about the ongoing process, from a historical as well as current outlook on the theory. 'Evolution' reviewed by Science PGCE student, University of Worcester Biozone Evolution forms part of a Biology Modular Workbook Series that can be used by all pupils studying the life sciences. It is a valuable resource filled with activities and information that can be used in conjunction with a textbook to support class work or homework. The range of activities provided makes this ideal as the perforated pages can be easily removed and handed into the teacher. The great value of this book is its student centred approach; the topics and theories are introduced in a fun and explorative way which would appeal to any enthusiastic student of science. The workbook is divided into three chapters which cover the origin and Evolution of Life, Mechanisms of Evolution and Patterns of Evolution. Each topic is introduced under the same, user-friendly format, which begins with learning objectives, chapter content and key words to look out for in the chapter. An introductory section explains how this resource can be utilised for the personal needs of the reader. The different styles of activities ranging from short questions, with space for answers, longer essay style questions and a more kinaesthetic approach in the form of cut and stick exercises and graph drawing makes this book accessible to all. Whilst introducing pupils to key aspects associated with Evolution it also develops pupils’ skills in answering questions, exploring different question forms and gives explanations on how to tackle these in answers. In this respect these books are a good practice for exam questions and would be a valuable learning resource in any classroom or home. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks and Presentation Media: Evolution | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
José Vázquez, THE AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 70, NO.3, MARCH 2008. |
||||||||||||||||||||
TEACHING OF EVOLUTION "Evolution. 2007. CD-ROM and workbook. This is another recent module developed by Biozone, which nicely complements the Human Evolution, and Genes & Inheritance modules reviewed in previous issues of ABT. Topics included are: • The Origin and Evolution of Life In addition to a Power Point® slide show which can be modified to a particular instructor's needs, the module offers a wide range of activities aimed at providing a different approach to the teaching of evolution at the secondary school level. The activities are well-thought and certainly provocative in the sense that students are probed to examine evolution from a perspective not typically covered by major textbook companies. The Origin and Evolution of Life section includes seventeen sub-sections beginning with life in the universe and expands its thesis to the origin of life on earth, including the origin of eukaryotic cells (including endosymbiosis), DNA hybridization evidence, comparative anatomy, and ends with continental drift and evolution, to name a few. Mechanisms of Evolution includes 28 sub-sections including genes and evolution, Darwin's theory, population genetics, genetic drift, speciation, and stages in species development. Two notable subsections are "Selection for Human Birth Weight" and "Analysis of a Squirrel Gene Pool". What makes these two sub-sections noteworthy is the fresh approach they bring to the understanding of evolutionary mechanisms; most biology textbooks tend to present such mechanisms in a dry format thus making the topic less convincing to our students. The last section, Patterns of Evolution, covers convergent evolution, co-evolution, adaptive radiation, causes of mass extinctions, and other topics pertinent to New Zealand species. Once again, the topics are presented in an engaging format and the activities provide a wide range of opportunities for enquiry. Answers to all questions for the three sections are provided to the teachers on a separate CD*(3). This module is appropriate for advanced secondary school biology courses such as AP®, IB®, or a stand-alone course in evolution. Also, it can be used at the undergraduate level for non-majors. All the activities provide a wide range of skills and students should have a great command of the subject by the end of the module. Hopefully, students will complete all activities realizing that the teaching and learning of evolution is a cornerstone in biology and ongoing controversies surrounding the teaching of evolution are best kept outside the biology classroom. Regardless of the implications, Biozone has provided a phenomenal tool for teaching evolution that surpasses most (if not all) attempts by other companies to bring evolution to our classrooms in the twenty-first century." José Vázquez Incorrectly stated in review |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbook & Presentation Media: Ecology | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
CMs Clegg, SCHOOL SCIENCE REVIEW, VOLUME 90, NO.332, MARCH 2009. |
||||||||||||||||||||
Biozone manuals and workbooks are popular with many teachers, despite the additional expense they represent. Whilst a workbook is not a textbook, it is designed to complement such resources by provision of well targeted activities and exercises. In effect, it is designed to support active learning by various pen-and-paper challenges, largely other than by traditional practical work (or extended field investigations, as in this topic). Photocopying of the resources is prohibited, so each student would require a copy of this resource if it is to be closely followed. The workbook divides ecology into six sections: Ecosystems. Energy flow and nutrient cycles, The dynamics of populations, Practical ecology, Classification and, finally, Changes in ecosystems. The structure of the resource is well explained with a concept map, followed by a listing of other relevant published resources and statements of the I meaning of commonly used terms. A feature of Biozone is the link it provides to specific Internet resources introduced via a dedicated web site - appropriately explained at the start of the book. The genesis of this resource was in New Zealand, but this presentation of ecology touches on habitats and organisms from biomes from all over the world. The focus of this series of books on understanding by activity rather than by didactic explanation has to be applauded. It explains their popularity with teachers, I think. Much of the subject matter of Ecology applies to current AS/A2 specifications, although it is not exclusively targeted on the needs of any one UK examination group. Necessarily it contains superfluous subject matters, to varying extents. To my mind, the absence of colour in the very grey pages of this resource is a major disadvantage, but no doubt many users are able to overcome the rather drab appearance of the pages that they require their students to focus upon. The numerous 'slides' that make up the CD-ROM resource are organised under the same headings as in the workbook. Given the absence of colour in the latter, the beautiful and colourful quality of the images on the CD-ROM is a major advantage. The idea of the images presented here is to provide slides that can be used in lecture-style presentations. As such, it is slightly at odds with the main thrust of the workbook, which clearly facilitates individualised, structured, activity learning. Nevertheless, teachers committed to incorporating Biozone resources into their teaching and learning will resolve this conundrum without difficulty. The visual impact of the slides is remarkable. Generally, they are not otherwise readily accessible for classroom teaching on ecology. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks and Presentation Media: Ecology | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Chris Clegg, SCHOOL SCIENCE REVIEW, VOLUME 90, NO.332, MARCH 2009. |
||||||||||||||||||||
Ecology workbook and Ecology PM CD-ROM Biozone manuals and workbooks are popular with many teachers, despite the additional expense they represent. Whilst a workbook is not a textbook, it is designed to complement such resources by provision of well targeted activities and exercises. In effect, it is designed to support active learning by various pen-and-paper challenges, largely other than by traditional practical work (or extended field investigations, as in this topic). Photocopying of the resources is prohibited, so each student would require a copy of this resource if it is to be closely followed. The workbook divides ecology into six sections: Ecosystems, Energy Flow and Nutrient Cycles, The dynamics of populations, Practical ecology, Classification and, finally, Changes in ecosystems. The structure of the resource is well explained with a concept map, followed by a listing of other relevant published resources and statements of the meaning of commonly used terms. A feature of Biozone is the link it provides to specific Internet resources introduced via a dedicated website - appropriately explained at the start of the book. The genesis of this resource was in New Zealand, but this presentation of ecology touches on habitats and organisms from biomes from all over the world. The focus of this series of books on understanding by activity rather than by didactic explanation has to be applauded. It explains their popularity with teachers, I think. Much of the subject matter of Ecology applies to current AS/A2 specifications, although it is not exclusively targeted on the needs of anyone UK examination group. Necessarily it contains superfluous subject matters, to varying extents. To my mind, the absence of colour in the very grey pages of this resource is a major disadvantage, but no doubt many users are able to overcome the rather drab appearance of the pages that they require their students to focus upon. The numerous 'slides' that
make up the CD-ROM resource
are organised under the same
headings as in the workbook.
Given the absence of colour
in the latter, the beautiful and
colourful quality of the images
on the CD-ROM is a major
advantage. The idea of the
images presented here is to
provide slides that can be used
in lecture-style presentations. As
such, it is slightly at odds with
the main thrust of the workbook,
which clearly facilitates
individualised, structured,
activity learning. Nevertheless,
teachers committed to
incorporating Biozone resources
into their teaching and learning
will resolve this conundrum
without difficulty. The
visual impact of the slides is
remarkable. Generally, they are
not otherwise readily accessible
for classroom teaching on
ecology. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Ecology | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sarah Penny, SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 11 JAN, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Ecology looks at ecological methodology, ecosystems and relatonships between different species. Biozone Ecology reviewed by a Science PGCE student, University of Worcester As a trainee teacher, I would use this resource as it offers a perfect complement to a text book. It provides an excellent revision tool and will enhance any student’s understanding of ecology. It uses a range of examples to demonstrate each topic, whilst the objectives for each topic can link directly to lessons. The pictures and photos throughout the book enable the pupils to relate the content to ecology outside the classroom, a fact which I really liked as it offers the opportunity to expand into discussions about the fieldwork. My only concern is that that the book could seem daunting to some pupils as there is no colour and the text is very small. This could put off a number of pupils. With my background in ecology, I feel that this book offers a range of resources which will not only aid pupil learning but also will prove an invaluable tool for students aiming for higher grades. The authors state that ‘Ecology’ “is designed to provide students with a resource that will make the acquisition of knowledge and skills in this area easier and more enjoyable”. I feel that this is a feat which they have certainly succeeded in and I will look forward to using their recommended resources. Average rating: |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Microbiology & Biotechnology | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Edward Bamford, SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 20 FEB, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Microbiology & Biotechnology supplies objectives and activities that pupils can research and investigate aspects of microbial diversity and modern biotechnology. Microbiology and Biotechnology 'Microbiology and Biotechnology' guides the reader on an informative course of discovery from microbial diversity to modern biotechnology ranging from genetic engineering to cloning. Genome research, including DNA chips and manual DNA sequencing, is also explored. The first comment that I would have to make about this book is how well structured and set out it is, beginning with showing the reader how each page is organised, so that the prospective reader knows what and where to look on each page for the desired information. This is consistent throughout and so would not leave any reader frustrated or confused about where to find certain facts, ideas or information. Where to find key points, further resources and learning objectives are all explained, so the reader instantly becomes accustomed to where everything is and where to find relevant information throughout the book. One point that must be raised with regards to the book is its attractiveness and how much it would entice someone to buy it and read on. There are some amazing and interesting pictures used, but they could be so much more effective if they included some colour so that they would stand out so much more and keep the attention of the reader. It’s almost a shame, as the reader wants to turn from page to page having these incredibly interesting pictures jumping out at them, making you really want to find out more about the information behind the photos. However, the backing up of information with these pictures is most useful and helps the reader to assimilate and understand the facts being explained more readily. As a visual representation of the information is given it becomes much easier to recall this when answering the questions. All the diagrams are effectively annotated, which would aid understanding of the key points. The book is not biased in its delivery, so it is possible to develop your own ideas about the material. It has, in essence, been written as it should; an informative guide and source of information, which delivers facts without prejudice or bias, so that the reader can formulate their own understanding and from there develop an opinion on what is an increasingly contentious area of research. In conclusion, the book is informative and thoroughly interesting to read, delving into microbiology and biotechnology in great depth. There is much information to learn and owing to the lay-out this is easy to assimilate; yet I feel the book could have been so much more with the use of colour as there are many amazingly interesting pictures that just need to jump out at you, but are left subdued.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Skill in Biology | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rachel Burton, SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 10 DEC, 2008 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Skills in Biology is an additional guide for planning and implementing biological experiments indoors and out. Skills in Biology - a Biozone, modular workbook The lay-out of this workbook has been formatted to support no specific curriculum and would be useful to AS and A2 students. The opening chapter explains how to complete an investigation using biological practices. Each aspect of the investigation is explained in detail and worked examples are provided to highlight points. There are opportunities within the examples to practise the skill or technique in question with the answers contained in a separate CD (not provided with the book). Some of the activities could be perceived as juvenile, such as a cut, sort and stick question, however the content level is high and would require deep understanding. The black and white nature in conjunction with the general lay-out of each page is positive preparation for exams and re-inforces the skills needed to answer questions accurately. The limited use of colour can be off-putting and there are often large sections of text to read with fairly small print. Never-the-less, there are possibilities for pages to be personalised by colouring the diagrams and annotating the text. The use of colour in some of the worked examples would be a benefit as it can be tricky to follow the processes and details at times. All the pages are removable from workbook and will fit into an A4 folder. Each sub-topic within a chapter has a unique referencing code that informs the user on the type of content covered. This can be used to identify areas of skill in need of development. Frequently, each sub-topic has extended reading or supplementary items to support the concepts covered. These are from a number of textbooks and journals presented in the Harvard referencing format. The overall nature of the book is a condensed over-view of key aspects of biological investigation that is good value for money. Used effectively with other course-specific information, it could provide a stout foundation for further study in the field of biology.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Environmental Science | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sharon Guest, SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 25 JAN, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Environmental Science explores the Earth’s physical and biological environments, and looks at how humans have interacted with it throughout time. Environmental Science Environmental Science is a comprehensive workbook from the ‘Biozone-Biology Modular Workbook Series’. The workbook is split into 6 sections, covering the full range of environmental science topics from ‘The Earths Systems’ to ‘Pollution and Global Change’ in a smart order of progression, including methods of investigation and analysis of global scientific issues. At the beginning of the book there is a useful concept map to indicate how all the topic sections are interlinked as the subject of environmental science. At first glance the information contained on each page may seem overwhelming for some students as it is packed in, and the text is quite small, but the diagrams and illustrations fit together beautifully and are followed by both long and short answer questions. Each section starts by advising the reader of the learning objectives and provides signposts for further reading including the ‘Biozone’ website for that topic. Pages are all coded for level and activity type but also give links to other relevant topics following the concept map. Key words are in bold type throughout the book. Overall, I think that this is an excellent, quality resource which will enhance the study of environmental science for the majority of advanced level students. It is intended to be purchased as an individual student workbook to support all A-level courses including the International Baccalaureate, hence it is not licensed for photocopying so at £6.95 on Amazon some students may find this expensive. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Genes & Inheritance | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Elizabeth Davies, SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 11 JAN, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Genes & Inheritance looks at molecular genetics and Mendelian/non-Mendelian inheritance via a variety of activities. Biozone Genes and Inheritance reviewed by The brightly coloured cover of this book gives high expectations in terms of presentation, so I must admit to being a little disappointed by the lack of colour inside. However, I soon developed a liking of the clear layout of the book. The text is divided into bite sized sections and the book is full of diagrams and pictures. Each chapter begins with detailed learning objectives which I feel could also be used as revision targets. The book is full of questions for pupils to answer creating a possible source for formative assessment or for independent pupil revision. Cut and stick activities in the book are a nice idea, however to make full use of these schools need to provide each pupil with their own book, this could be financially problematic. Recommended further reading in the book is suggested for each chapter; I feel some sources may be too advanced for A-level however could be of great interest for keen, high ability students so this is good way to stretch more able pupils. The test itself is detailed and concise and offers many accessible examples. The excellent use of diagrams makes this book a powerful revision tool. I think if cost allowed one book per pupil it could be used to create an extremely useful and beneficial set of notes to accompany those from lessons. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Health & Disease | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Rebecca Leighton, SCHOOL SCIENCE REVIEW, VOLUME 90, NO.332, MARCH 2009. |
||||||||||||||||||||
If you need to know about disease, then this workbook and CD-ROM combo are for you. There are four useful sections: the nature of disease, infectious disease, non-infectious disease and defence and the immune system. The four topics are available on the CD-ROM for Mac and Windows, and in a variety of formats so access should not be an issue. There are lots of photos, such as an MRl scanner. However, the spellings are in American English, so some corrections may be required for UK use. The smallest presentation contains 60 very detailed slides, for example four slides are devoted to ultrasound in pregnancy. I feel that it might be better to break the presentations down into smaller, more manageable topics, stored under the four subjects headings. The photos and diagrams in the workbook are in black and white, unlike the slides. It would be nicer in colour. The book has been geared to the UK and the spellings are correct. When the page numbers hit three digits though, in the copy reviewed the third digit is cut off the edge of the page. The first few pages discuss the format and layout of the book, and the page on question terminology is extremely helpful. The page of suggested resources is also very helpful and it is picked up at the beginning of every topic, with more specific resources. It also suggests making key word banks, by taking the bold words from the topic introduction and adding a definition to them. This is a good idea, which would encourage most students to actually think about what the words mean. The idea of the workbooks is that each student can read the information, complete the accompanying questions, and then tear out the page and add it to a ring binder in which their notes are kept. This is a great idea in principle, but there is generally a different subject on the front and back of each page, so I would wonder about exactly where to place the page. Also if you wanted to use a hole-punch, there is not a lot of margin space. The slides on the CD-ROM are aimed at teacher-taught A-level sessions and the workbooks are intended as student-led revision guides. The CD-ROM could be a useful resource with any level. As the book is intended as a single-user workbook, funding may mean that students would have to contribute to the cost of the books themselves. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks: Health & Disease | |||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sophie Gower, SECONDARY SCIENCE PGCE STUDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WORCESTER, 5 JAN, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Part of the Biozone Modular Workbook series, Health & Disease looks at various areas of human health, illness and how medicine/treatment affects future and present health disorders. Health and Disease reviewed by Sophie Gower, Having never studied human biology at A-level, I am not sure just how much detail a student of this age would need to know about health and disease. The Biozone modular workbook on Health and Disease provides a comprehensive guide on the topic at a level that I would consider to be of degree difficulty in places, but in an interesting and very visual way. The book covers a wide range of issues, in great detail and using a lot of pictures and text to illustrate the ideas it is aiming to teach. However, if I were a student I think I may initially feel daunted by the amount of text each sheet contains and the size of the writing (it sounds pedantic, but it really is quite small). All of the pages, including the pictures are in black and white, presumably to save money, but a lot of the concepts would be infinitely better demonstrated using colour. There are good points about this guide though that make it a resource that I would give my students to use. Each sheet can be removed from the book easily due to its perforated pages, meaning that a department would only need to keep one master copy to produce a wealth of resources for their students (though, note – the pages may not be photocopied). The writers state that this text aims to ‘span the gulf between text book and study guide’, something which I feel it succeeds at, providing information which is easier to digest than that of a text book, but in far more detail than is provided by revision guides which students cannot entirely rely on if they wish to attain the top grades. Average rating: |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbook & Presentation Media: Cell Biology & Biochemistry | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Stephen Hoskins, SCHOOL SCIENCE REVIEW, VOLUME 90, NO.332, MARCH 2009. |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
The workbook follows the standard format for this series. Undoubtedly many A2 and other post- 16 tertiary biology students will find much to commend in it. Pages 1~7 explain to the student how to use the book, introduce activity pages, glossaries, using the Internet, resource information and what a cell biology concept map is. The first chapter, on Molecules of Life', starts with learning objectives cross-referenced to the relevant pages before beginning the more formal study of the biochemical nature of the cell and important molecular groups such as carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, etc. Below the text there are questions and spaces for answers and certain pages are intended for removal and insertion into student files. The text is both comprehensive and student-centred with a wealth of secondary resources, which the more ambitious student can follow up. Throughout the book all the text, photographs and diagrams are in black and white and are not, in my opinion, of a particularly good standard; indeed some, such as the six pictures of organisms on page 33, are so small and lacking in detail as to be of questionable value. Similarly, the font size of the lists of supplementary texts, periodicals and web addresses, as on page 9, is very small. I understand and applaud the authors desire to produce a resource that supplements, extends and underpins course textbooks whilst at the same time being competitively priced, and at £6.95 they have succeeded admirably. However, in terms of quality of font and diagrams, attractiveness to the student, and some aspects of clarity, especially when describing molecules reacting or groups that are of particular importance to the behaviour and function of the molecule, the book falls short. Additionally, there is an expectation that the teacher has access to the accompanying CD-ROM as well as the usual textbooks associated with specific courses. Where students purchase their own copies of this workbook the cost to institutions is low, but where new copies have to be purchased for large sets of students each year this could become a financial burden. Overall, the book has merits. It is very comprehensive and it is cheap by today's standards. When used in conjunction with the CD-ROM and textbooks it will undoubtedly prove an invaluable resource and for that reason alone it is to be recommended. Teaching has come a long way since the days of coloured chalk drawings on a blackboard and multicoloured Banda handouts. Nowhere is this more clearly seen than in the contents of the accompanying CD-ROM. The level of presentation, depth, content and general clarity is exceptional. Complex structures and intricate biochemical pathways unfold before the eyes of the student in ways that no blackboard or OHP acetate could portray. There are six PowerPoint presentations covering: molecules of life; introduction to cells; cell structure; membrane and transport; cellular energetics; and processes in the nucleus. Each presentation is highly visual, accurate and very detailed, possibly exceeding the level of many non-traditional A2 syllabuses; thus the teacher would need to be selective in which slides to include to avoid overloading the students. However, this last point is not a criticism because it demonstrates the versatility of use of this teaching 'aid for a diversity of tertiary and foundation degree courses. Inevitably, there are minor errors such as the location of letters intended to show a specific part of a cell being slightly out of position, but the discerning teacher will spot this and build it into their presentation. The cost of the CD-ROM is high, but the fact that the authors have permitted it to be copied onto the intranet and individual staff laptops within the purchasing organisation, plus the fact that it can be edited and modified to suit individual needs, greatly offsets the initial outlay. I firmly recommend this product to all teachers of AS, A2 and sub-degree courses, believing it to represent the very best of modem educational technology. |
||||||||||||||||||||
| Modular Workbooks and Presentation Media: Cell Biology & Biochemistry | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Chris K. Jervis, THE AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER, VOLUME 70, NO.1, JANUARY 2008 |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
System Requirements: The items reviewed consisted of two products. One, the less expensive one, was a workbook addressing these areas of introductory biology: Molecules of Life, Cell Structure, Cell Membranes and Transport, Cellular Energetics, and Processes in the Nucleus. The second product, considerably more expensive, was a CD library of presentation graphics in multiple formats (PowerPoint, HTML, PDF, Quicktime, and Apple's Keynote) keyed to the sections in the workbook. Both of these are subdivisions of a larger body of work, which covers the entirety of an introductory biology course at either the freshmen level or advanced high school level. All of these units are available as modules. The workbook/study guide has much to be said for it. For each of the five chapters, it has clearly stated objectives, extensive additional resources listing of supplemental texts, lists of periodical resources from print media, URL's for web-based media and concept map "outlines". The book sections could easily serve as assessments or study guide activities. The online links, available through the web address above, are extensive and worthwhile. The workbook is compact, with perforated pages for turning in student work if desired. The graphics are extensive and impressive, similar to many that one might find in any one of numerous texts or ancillary materials. Much of the graphics are replicated in full color on the media presentation CD, although they are in high quality black and white/gray tone in the print. Rather than being a minus for the product, the lack of color graphics clearly helps keep the cost down low enough that it would not be a burden to have students purchase the module as a supplemental workbook/study guide for use with any major freshmen level or high school level text. Excellent illustrations in the print, electronic media (CD and web site), copious links to much useful information are pluses. The PowerPoint files are editable, allowing one to personalize them if desired. The disk ran well on Windows and Mac platforms. I think that either alone, but certainly together, these two are valuable resources. They will allow for concentrated review/study guide activities with the print media, and give an excellent set of graphics which are editable for classroom presentations. The universal nature of the materials makes them useful with multiple texts, not just the Biozone products.
Chris K. Jervis |
||||||||||||||||||||