CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Web based tools developed to help students understand cell ultra-structure Frog cell at Anaphase Lisa Russell, Jo Forrester and Phil Bishop Department of Zoology University of Otago

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Cell ultra-structure  Develop the students capacity to infer function of different cell types based on their recognition of constituent organelles. Images Katrin Geist and Richard Easingwood

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Challenges facing large, first year biology classes: Evident that students struggle to make the link between:  3-d structure of organs, tissues and cellular components from lectures  2-d images that they obtain from light and electron micrographs

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology  Textbook examples of stylised ‘typical’ cells often represent an oversimplification of real life images students will view during the course. Challenges facing large, first year biology classes:

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Only a very limited time and resources to provide students with hands-on practical experience with microscopy  limited to light microscopy Viewing electron micrographs (TEM and SEM) restricted: Challenges facing large, first year biology classes:  paper exercises or as web-based activities  free online software available has limitations (Image J and Zoomify)

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Image J  Open source program  Wide range of tools, including a calibration tool Limitations:  not user friendly  requires detailed step by step instructions to calibrate image, annotate image etc.  students must download program x=1.40, y=0.627, angle= , length = 5.30

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Zoomify  freeware package  high resolution imaging Limitations of package:  unable to calibrate or calculate scale  unable to add annotations or a key

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Project Develop a web-based tool to complement guided learning exercises that investigate:  how cell ultra-structure is imaged (microscopy and scale)  structure and function of common organelles  cell diversity and ultra-structural differences (simple versus specialised cells)

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Project Funded by a CALT (Committee for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching) e-learning grant Collaborative project:  Educational Media, Higher Education Development Centre (Peter Vlugter and Ayelet Cohen)  Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy (OCEM) in particular Mr Richard Easingwood and Miss Katrin Geist

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Project o Development of a range of high resolution EM images from a range of cell types: ‘simple cells’ (plant and animal cells) and specialised cells (secretory and absorptive)

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Ideal features of an image viewer:  Zoom and panning tool  Annotation tool  Interactive key  Measuring tool (linear and relative area)

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Zoom and panning tool

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Annotation tool Nucleus Dark stained areas – heterochromatin light areas - euchromatin

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Interactive key

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Linear measuring tool

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Measuring area

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Grid tool

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Application of the image viewer:  Image viewer is now used in three first year courses Biology 112 (Introduction to animal biology)  Utilized in a practical laboratory  Proportion of red muscle present within a cross section of eel tissue subjected to differing hormonal treatments

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology  Image viewer is now freely available throughout the university as a plug-in to UniTube (file sharing system, wide range of file types including images, videos and audio files).  Once uploaded the UniTube URL can be shared or embed it into Blackboard or any other website.

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology ‘Build a cell’ game  Online interactive game designed to test students ability to link cell structure with function.

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology ‘Build a cell’ game  Four levels - in each level they have to essentially build the specified cell from a range of cell components. o simple plant and animal cell, specialised secretory and absorptive cells.

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology To progress through each level: o correct cell components in roughly the correct frequency (1, 2-10 or extensive) o 3 attempts at each level, if incorrect they have to start the game again. ‘Build a cell’ game

CELS191 - Cell and Molecular Biology Ongoing developments Image viewer  Develop the annotation tool further o allow students to annotate and save images for reviewing o potential for assessment Build a cell game  developing specific feedback