Do you think that listening to podcasts could help your revision?
Have a read through this and tell us what you think. Do you have any ideas for Biology Podcasts?
"UWE students get podcasts on the brain
Issue date: 06/02/2007UWE students get podcasts on the brain.
Students studying Applied Biology and Psychology at the University of the West of England are reaping the benefits of their lecturer's innovative approach to teaching by downloading a series of lectures on the brain to their phones and iPods which they can then listen to whenever they choose.Dr Stephen Gomez, a lecturer in neurophysiology and neuroanatonomy has recorded many of his lectures and handouts onto a series of podcasts which students can download onto their phones, iPods, PDAs, laptops or computers. The podcasts, which are intended to reinforce rather than replace lectures, have won praise from students who appreciate the increased flexibility and new learning opportunities they offer. Many students say they listen to the podcasts at home, or when they are travelling to University on the bus.Podcasts are audio or video files which are published to the internet and allow users to subscribe to a feed and receive new files automatically. They are used by a wide cross section of people to share information, music and for example to download radio programmes.Dr Gomez explains, “Initially I produced audio files to accompany my printed handouts and students said they found these very useful. I have now developed video-podcasts which include diagrams and video clips so students can watch and listen to the material on their mobile phones. “The feedback so far has been excellent and students welcome the flexibility of being able to listen to the material when they choose. The audio format also helps people to reinforce and retain their learning - as well as being a very useful revision tool.” “Many universities are beginning to appreciate the value of podcasts in teaching and learning, though some people still see them as a gimmick. Some lecturers are simply recording their whole lectures as podcasts, but in my view this has limited value for students. “I believe I have found a way of making this new technology really benefit students.My podcasts are short (2-3 minutes) and can be strung together as a series to cover a whole subject area or rearranged for another context. I also discovered early on that by scripting my audio files before recording them this produces a better result for students. Students subscribe to my podcasts and whenever I produce a new one it becomes automatically available to the student. It goes without saying that students of the future will increasingly come to expect the flexibility which this technology offers.”Student Christopher Cross says, “I have found these podcasts very useful and a good learning tool. It was good to sit and listen to them while going through my notes from the lecture reinforcing my knowledge and adding things I missed.”Mikal Wade, a second year student, said, “I have been able to listen to some of the audio files and think they are amazing. It is such a brilliant idea and I hope that other lecturers follow your example at some point in the future.”Chloe Everall said “I just listened to the first 6 podcasts and I think they're really good. It's easier to remember stuff when its being read out and they work as quite a neat little summary, and its more entertaining than just reading so I'm more likely to go over the lecture material than I would have done with just a printed handout.”Dr Gomez says though he had technical help developing the project, there was very little cost involved and he used free software to produce the podcasts. He now wants to carry on with using the technology and will be talking to colleagues across the University to encourage other lecturers to follow his lead".
Friday, 9 February 2007
A post for S3 students ...
Have a look at this experiment carried out as part of a science project by a boy in the USA. How does this link in with what you are learning about Osmosis?
In which straw will the level of fluid have risen up the most ?
Student wins science fair by osmosis
By Carol La Valley, Roundup staff reporter
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Half of the students at Pine Strawberry Elementary School participated in the school's science fair in hopes of taking home the grand prize -- a telescope.
Carol La Valley/RoundupCaleb Paine won the Grand Prize telescope in Pine-Strawberry Elementary School's science fair.
First-grade student, Caleb Paine, beat out 64 other budding scientists, with his project on osmosis.
The hypothesis: An egg membrane will soak up whatever liquid it is sitting in.
Paine got the idea from a book.
He needed three raw eggs with the outer shell removed from one end and the membrane left intact.
"My mom got pretty good at peeling the eggs," Paine said.
But peeling eggs was the only thing she helped him do.
Paine inserted straws in the end of the egg then sealed the ends with clay.
Next he placed one egg in a jar filled with water, one in salt water and one in Coke.
He checked the level of fluid in the straws every waking hour over the next two days and charted the fluid's gradual rise.
"The science fair was fun and I learned that an egg membrane is semi-permeable," he said.
In which straw will the level of fluid have risen up the most ?
Student wins science fair by osmosis
By Carol La Valley, Roundup staff reporter
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Half of the students at Pine Strawberry Elementary School participated in the school's science fair in hopes of taking home the grand prize -- a telescope.
Carol La Valley/RoundupCaleb Paine won the Grand Prize telescope in Pine-Strawberry Elementary School's science fair.
First-grade student, Caleb Paine, beat out 64 other budding scientists, with his project on osmosis.
The hypothesis: An egg membrane will soak up whatever liquid it is sitting in.
Paine got the idea from a book.
He needed three raw eggs with the outer shell removed from one end and the membrane left intact.
"My mom got pretty good at peeling the eggs," Paine said.
But peeling eggs was the only thing she helped him do.
Paine inserted straws in the end of the egg then sealed the ends with clay.
Next he placed one egg in a jar filled with water, one in salt water and one in Coke.
He checked the level of fluid in the straws every waking hour over the next two days and charted the fluid's gradual rise.
"The science fair was fun and I learned that an egg membrane is semi-permeable," he said.
For S4 students studying genetics...
Have a look at this news item. It's all about gene mutations like those you have been looking at in the 'Genetics and Society' section of the Inheritance topic in the standard grade course....
Your class teacher may ask you to look at this and leave your comments.
Gene Therapy Breakthrough For Autism Condition
Campaigners are celebrating after a gene therapy breakthrough offered hope of treatment for a disabling autistic-type condition. The British study of laboratory mice suggests a gene treatment can reverse the symptoms of Rett Syndrome, regarded as the most physically disabling of the autistic diseases. The condition strikes mainly girls and leaves many in wheelchairs, suffering from tremors and breathing disorders. The study, reported on-line by Science Express today, suggests that the mutant gene, MECP2, can successfully be replaced. Healthy genes were administered to mice bred to be born with the Rett syndrome gene. Researcher Professor Adrian Bird, of Edinburgh University, Scotland, said: "Like many other people, we expected that giving MeCP2 to mice that were already sick would not work. "The idea that you could put back an essential component after the damage to the brain is done and recover an apparently normal mouse seemed farfetched, as nerve cells that developed in the absence of a key component were assumed to be irrevocably damaged. "The results are gratifyingly clear, though, and must give hope to those who are affected by this distressing disorder." The four week treatment eradicated tremors, restored breathing to normal and restored mobility and steady gait to the animals. Monica Coenraads, a founder of the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation, said: "Dr. Bird’s astonishing results usher in a new era for Rett Syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders. The reversal experiments provide justification for aggressive exploration of next steps on all fronts, from drug discovery to gene correction." And Professor Huda Zoghbi, who discovered the Rett syndrome gene, described the results as "extraordinary". Professor Zoghbi, of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, USA, said: "They are of relevance not only to Rett Syndrome but to a much broader class of disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. "The successful restoration of normal function demonstrated in the mouse models suggests that if we can develop therapies to address the loss of MECP2 we may be able to reverse neurological damage in children and adults with Rett, autism and related neuropsychiatric disorders."
Date: February 9th 2007
Your class teacher may ask you to look at this and leave your comments.
Gene Therapy Breakthrough For Autism Condition
Campaigners are celebrating after a gene therapy breakthrough offered hope of treatment for a disabling autistic-type condition. The British study of laboratory mice suggests a gene treatment can reverse the symptoms of Rett Syndrome, regarded as the most physically disabling of the autistic diseases. The condition strikes mainly girls and leaves many in wheelchairs, suffering from tremors and breathing disorders. The study, reported on-line by Science Express today, suggests that the mutant gene, MECP2, can successfully be replaced. Healthy genes were administered to mice bred to be born with the Rett syndrome gene. Researcher Professor Adrian Bird, of Edinburgh University, Scotland, said: "Like many other people, we expected that giving MeCP2 to mice that were already sick would not work. "The idea that you could put back an essential component after the damage to the brain is done and recover an apparently normal mouse seemed farfetched, as nerve cells that developed in the absence of a key component were assumed to be irrevocably damaged. "The results are gratifyingly clear, though, and must give hope to those who are affected by this distressing disorder." The four week treatment eradicated tremors, restored breathing to normal and restored mobility and steady gait to the animals. Monica Coenraads, a founder of the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation, said: "Dr. Bird’s astonishing results usher in a new era for Rett Syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders. The reversal experiments provide justification for aggressive exploration of next steps on all fronts, from drug discovery to gene correction." And Professor Huda Zoghbi, who discovered the Rett syndrome gene, described the results as "extraordinary". Professor Zoghbi, of Baylor College of Medicine, Texas, USA, said: "They are of relevance not only to Rett Syndrome but to a much broader class of disorders, including autism and schizophrenia. "The successful restoration of normal function demonstrated in the mouse models suggests that if we can develop therapies to address the loss of MECP2 we may be able to reverse neurological damage in children and adults with Rett, autism and related neuropsychiatric disorders."
Date: February 9th 2007
Introducing the new Biology Blog Site
This is a post to introduce this new site from the Biology department at Cathkin High School.
Over the next few weeks, the site will start to fill up with information, hot debate topics and useful links. We will also use it to set homework assignments for S3-6 classes.
Our contact e-mail address is... biology@cathkin.s-lanark.sch.uk
All assignments should be returned to this address, following the instructions given. Returns should be in word doc. format....
You are welcome to leave your comments on the posts here, or to suggest new topics for discussion.
Ms Richards
Over the next few weeks, the site will start to fill up with information, hot debate topics and useful links. We will also use it to set homework assignments for S3-6 classes.
Our contact e-mail address is... biology@cathkin.s-lanark.sch.uk
All assignments should be returned to this address, following the instructions given. Returns should be in word doc. format....
You are welcome to leave your comments on the posts here, or to suggest new topics for discussion.
Ms Richards
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