Using images in science education is essential.
I have already written a blog about using still images in biology, but this one is about animations. If a picture is worth a thousand words, a two-minute animation is worth 24 (frames/sec) x 60 seconds x 2 minutes x 1000 words, or approximately 2,880,000 words! (at least according to the math). The standard frame rate for an animated video is 24 frames/second, but this number can vary. The point is that animations can convey a lot more information about a topic than a single image. The type of animations that this blog refers to are animations for processes, not cartoon-like videos about a science topic. I love those too, and some are about processes as well.
There are times when a single image is sufficient, but understanding a process comes easier if the process can be visualized over time. A good example is mitosis. Most biology materials use individual pictures of the phases of the cell cycle and mitosis. These pictures don’t show how one picture turns into another, so students may miss the process. The process is more important than the individual pictures. Meiosis is another process that is difficult for many students. Imagine using still pictures and then an animation to help students put it all together.
Many textbook companies include animations in their ancillary materials and I highly suggest that you check them out. This blog features animations that can be found online for teachers to use in their classrooms. These animations are free as long as they are used noncommercially.
When you show an animation to the class, introduce it and explain why you are using it with the students. Check for understanding by having a short assessment afterward. You may want to pause to allow students to complete the assessment while the animation is playing. If the animation is short enough, you can play it several times for the students. (An example is included at the end of the blog.)
One of my favorite sets of animations is found at Sumanas, Inc. Multimedia Development Services. This link is just for their general biology animations, but they have them for other science subjects. These animations are associated with textbook resources, and are copyrighted. Please do not attempt to download them or use them for commercial purposes. This list includes animations on the following topics: mitosis, meiosis, evolution of eukaryotic organelles, cellular respiration, evolution, reflex arcs, stem cells, gel electrophoresis, and many more.
There are other websites that also have wonderful animations. Check these out:
DNA Learning Center at Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory A few of my favorites include the animations on polymerase chain reaction, DNA restriction, gel electrophoresis and DNA packaging.
This site has animations and videos. There are animations on cellular respiration (a series), photosynthesis (a series), skin color, natural selection, X inactivation, and more. There is a very interesting video on meiosis called The Meaning of Sex, Genes and Gender which should be previewed by the teacher since it might suggest some questions that will need to be treated with care.
A search of YouTube will also yield animations as well. Here is
Best Biology Animations by Nucleus Biology. It has a playlist of animations and a playlist of quizzes.
A general web search will yield results, but be aware that many of them are not free.
I hope you will use animations in your classroom. I have presented a few places to look, but explore on your own...you may find just the thing to use for your next lesson. Happy teaching everyone!
-Jane
The following is an example of an introduction, the animations and an assessment for use of an animation in the classroom:
Cell Biology – The Cell Cycle and Mitosis
Mitosis is part of the cell cycle. Our bodies need mitosis for growth and repair. New cells must be fully functional, so they need all of the organelles and structures that the parent cells had. This animation shows the processes involved in the cell cycle. This animation is specifically about mitosis.
1. Describe a chromosome in G1 phase of the cell cycle.
2. Describe a chromosome after S phase of the cell cycle.
3. Why does this happen in S phase?
4. Why do chromosomes condense in prophase of mitosis?
5. Why do microtubules connect to the chromosomes in prometaphase?
6. Why do chromosomes line up in metaphase of mitosis?
7. The cell in this animation begins with 4 chromosomes. How many chromosomes are found in anaphase?
8. What will eventually happen to the chromosomes in telophase?
9. What is the difference between mitosis and cytokinesis?
Key:
1. A chromosome in G1 is a single chromatid.
2. The chromosome is now duplicated and consists of two sister chromatids,
3. This happens to duplicate the chromosomes in preparation for nuclear division.
4. The chromosomes condense so that they are more compact and do not tangle when they are moved about.
5. The microtubules will eventually contract in anaphase and pull the sister chromatids apart.
6. The chromosomes line up so the sister chromatids will be evenly distributed to each daughter cell.
7. 8 (in single chromatids)
8. 4 will go to one daughter cell and 4 will go to the other daughter cell. Each cell will receive the correct number of chromosomes.
9. Mitosis is division of the nucleus, and cytokinesis is division of the cytoplasm.
Comentarios