Yacapaca.com – set, mark and analyse assessments online – for free
Yacapaca allows you to set Flash quizzes and portfolio tasks for students – with the added bonus of being able to see who has completed it, their score and class data for each activity.
It takes a while to get used to (not totally intuitive), but once you’re up and running it’s worth the effort. There is a wealth of authoring group to join (including IB Biology and IB MYP Science), where you can add questions to a common bank and draw from the work and expertise of other teachers. The GCSE Biology and Physics and Science groups are very well resourced indeed.
Go on, have a go. At least your mob will get a different type of homework this week.
If you need more convincing before you sign up, visit the Chalkface blog.
John Kyrk – Cell Biology Animation
This guy has spent a lot of time and effort on these animations, and they are brilliant.
]
Visit his main page at www.johnkyrk.com and you’ll find all you need for IB Bio HL Cells and Chemistry of Life.
Protein Synthesis: Transcription and Translation linklist
There are many decent Flash animations and the like on the internet, but the majority cannot be embedded. Below this YouTube video, there are some direct links to resources, some of which can be easily saved.
Learn.Genetics @ Utah
Transcribe and Translate (good, basic, interactive)
How do fireflies glow? (puts it in context)
University of Nebraska:
Protein Synthesis overview (Good enough for SL)
Transcription Details (fits DP Bio HL very well)
Translation Details (fits DP Bio HL very well)
John Kyrk: (visit the parent site at www.johnkyrk.com – excellent)
Transcription (fits DP Bio HL very well)
Translation (fits DP Bio HL very well)
St. Olaf College
Transcription (clear and simple)
Translation (clear and simple)
WH Freeman
RNA Splicing tutorial (HL only)
Bio3400
Translation with a genetic code dictionary (shows position in the ribosome)
Some more in-depth animations (newly added):
Translation from Wiley Interscience
Translation from LSU Medschool
Translation from The Chinese University in Hong Kong
Protein targeting from Rockefeller University
Toronto Physics – simple flash animations
This resource by David Harrison is simple and user-friendly. Flash animations are easily saved.
Thanks to firrs from the TES Boards for posting the link.
Learn.Genetics @ Utah
Easily the best Genetics resource out there. Loads of Flash animations, Shockwave virtual labs and up-to-date information. Well worth spending some time there and seeing what could be used in class. Teachers can register for news and teaching ideas.
Virtual labs include DNA Extraction, Gel Electrophoresis and a DNA Microarray. Perfect for the DP Genetics unit.
DNA Extraction: a simple method and a music video
A simple DNA extraction worksheet is posted in the BOX on the right.
Alternatively, go here.
This video shows a guy extracting pea DNA and using it to draw a portrait of Darwin.
(Music Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Tick)
HHMI Biointeractive: teach ahead of the textbook
The Howard Hughes Medical Institute has produced some great, interactive resources for medicine and genetics, including a virtual ELISA test and a transgenic fly virtual lab. Go and have a look – there’re also plenty of animations, though even Flashcatcher can’t save them.
Download a worksheet for the ELISA here.
For a simple mock HIV test (using potassium iodide, lead nitrate and a bit of imaginitive labeling), visit the IB Biology Lab Bank
5,000 views and another Brainiac post
Thanks for the support.
Here are the Brainiacs looking at the differences between fat and thin people.
In these two clips, we can see the buoyant and thermal properties of lipids – ideal for the IBDP Bio statement on the properties of lipids.
The Theory of Everything?
Looks like the theory of etch-a-sketch*. I’m buggered if I understand it.
*or maybe Spirograph. Or that one with the colourful threads and the boards with holes in.
Hip-Hip-Hooray for DNA
I don’t know how sincere this is – it sounds like it might’ve been heavily influenced by Monty Python – but it’s catchy and I like it. Peter Weatherall has a few if these on YouTube, so go and have a look.
Another catchy one (this time about photosynthesis) after the jump.
i-Biology 