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Alternatives Database
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Vertebrate Dissection Guides: The Dogfish
Review
By Dr Alex S. Davies A.S.Davies@massey.ac.nz
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, New Zealand (commissioned by eurca)
Summary
This resource goes a long way, but not completely, to replace laboratory dissection of the dogfish should this be considered necessary or desirable. Some features are a didactic improvement on student dissection. The product is attractive in appearance, although the graphics should be updated using digital technology, and it should be adapted to be internet based.
Objectives of the programme
The programme sets out to complement and enhance the use of a preserved dogfish for study and dissection. It could totally replace dissection when no laboratory class or facilities were available, as for extramural study, or if students had moral objections to handing dead animal tissue. However, since the financial and ethical cost of a dogfish caught as bycatch is low, complete replacement may not be considered necessary. Since hands-on learning and well designed CAL packages each have special advantages that compliment each other, the best appreciation of vertebrate biology will be the use of both.
Alternative resource compared with using animal material
The programme gives clear instructions as to how to dissect, and is also useful for students to review the subject after dissection. The combination of dissection and this CD ROM programme provides a good didactic advantage over dissection alone. This is because adequate factual knowledge and principles are provided, and the student is guided well through dissection procedures.
The instructor must decide for him or herself the extent to which hands-on skills are relevant to a proper appreciation of the biology of the dogfish. Some aspects of the CD ROM are an improvement on laboratory dissection: the sight and smell of a dogfish lab are remembered by many as a repulsive experience.
This resource includes some techniques, such as underwater dissection, that would not be done as well by students.
Using the programme
The programme is easy to install although not across computer platforms. An improvement would be to run in HTML on a web browser, which would have the added advantage of being available anywhere worldwide.
Navigation works quite well although the highlighting colour changes to the text of index lists was not always clear and, for the urogenital system, did not work at all. Most current websites have clearer indicators for navigation.
The resource to a large extent replaces teacher input, especially with the use of ‘teacher notes’ printed off the CD ROM. The outline drawings in this printout are an excellent idea.
An interactive quiz following each section would be an improvement.
Applicability in the teaching situation
The resource is quite suitable for first year university biology students. It could be used by individuals, or, when projected, by a large class for introduction and discussion.
Students using it will have a good understanding of how dissection enables us to learn about body function. If the resource is successful in helping a particular student, he or she will appreciate the extent to which dissection replacement is possible, and be aware of how computers achieve this. Successful use of the programme away from formal classes would demonstrate that students can work independently. Its use by a group would very much depend on teacher input in organising computer tutorials on the topic, but overall would reduce staff – student contact time.
Technical comments
Visually the programme is attractive, and is enhanced by the sympathetic and clear dialogue. The traditional use of pointing, as in tutorial mode, creates difficulties of synchronisation with speech. This would be eliminated by the use of coloured overlays and indicators, now much easier to create with digital movie editing. Light shining off tissues sometimes obscures detail. This is now improved by using digital video with less light. There was confusion in some places with directional terms and orientation. The cranial nerve summary was particularly well done, as was the frequent zooming in for a close inspection. The video quality was adequate, although colour and sharpness were not optimal. New digital video technology has increased our expectations for digital movies. Nowhere is it stated when the resource was created, but this was presumably in the analogue era.
Contacts for the user
Information about the supplier is clear. There is however no invitation to contact either the developer or the supplier, or to solicit criticism.
If you are an author or supplier of this alternative and you would like to write a response to this review please contact eurca with your reply.
Designed and produced for eurca by The Learning Technology Section, The University of Edinburgh. ©2001-2005 eurca