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Alternatives Database
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Review
By Mrs. Solita van Duin, animal physiologist and educational software developer S.van.Duin@farm.rug.nl
Rijks Universiteit Groningen (commissioned by eurca)
Summary
Blood Physiology is a well performed simulation of laboratory tests using animal blood for the determination of blood cells indices, blood groups, and the diagnosis of anaemias. In addition to a book, this resource could serve as a perfect training model to get skilful in the interpretation of the data around blood cell tests. The input of a teacher for more extended physiological explanations would complete the practical.
Comparison of the alternative resource with real animal model in the laboratory
Blood Physiology could act as a replacement for laboratory tests using animal blood for the determination of blood cells indices, blood groups, and the diagnosis of anaemias. Nice simulations are used to imitate the practical, though no realistic images of the tests are being used. In the red blood cell counting, results are obtained by some experimental interactivity. In the “case studies” however, only fixed values are given, waiting for the student to be interpreted. Therefore, the recource lacks the invitation to learn in an explorative way (due to the fixed values), and students would not be better prepared whenever the real animal lab is faced after some time.
The interpretation of blood tests seems the major learning goal. From that point of view this resource could serve as a perfect training model, which makes the resource a better learning tool than the animal lab.
Using the alternative resource
This program runs automatically as soon as the disk is inserted. It is easy to navigate using ”>” and ”< “. Now and then some items in the text are hyperlinked to further explanation. The resource is a better practicing tool than the animal lab, but not before students have gained basic insight in this topic. Blood Physiology requires a certain level of medical knowledge, and the glossary does not meet all ‘difficult terms’. Therefore, it is not considered to be a self-supporting program; at least, from educational point of view.
From technical point of view it runs well without hesitations and with friendly navigations; everybody would be able to work with it.
Contribution of the alternative resource to the 3Rs
In Blood Physiology, red cell tests are carried out on blood samples, without showing how the samples usually would have been obtained from the animals. The conduction of the experiments is hardly made visible. Therefore, the resource will hardly make students more aware of animal experimentation or the reduction of it. However, using it as a training program the student will learn a lot about the procedural steps from blood sample to red blood cell indices.
The resource will promote independent working, and reduces staff-student time.
Applicablitity in teaching situation
The resource is suitable for undergraduate students at University (years 1 & 2) . When students first are taught the basic knowledge from a book or in class, the program can be used perfectly and independently to get skilful in the interpretation of red blood cell indices. Questions and tasks are included to promote the student learning in an interactive way. However, an incorrect answered question lacks the presentation of the kind of feedback from which the student understands his fault. Only correct answers are presented instead. The program might need some teacher’s support or a practical evaluation could be useful. Furthermore, the physiology part is a minor component in the resource, as certain “cause – and – event – relationships” are poorly explained. So, a summary in class could be useful to provide the students with feedback information and physiological explanations. Instead of the title "Blood Physiology",
"Blood Cell Determinations" would have been more appropriate.
Visual appearance
The resource looks interesting and it has a friendly user’s interface. There are no exaggerations that might distract the attention. Illustrations are always simulated representations of appropriate quality. But the modern student however, would prefer more images, sounds and awards to to make learning more fun.
Service provided by the supplier
Technical problems did not appear. It should be common that program developers should always be available for technical problems, or comments concerning the contents of a program. This would only take lift up the recource up to a higher level. The developer of Blood Physiology is always available to provide service on this recource, whenever it would be necessary.
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