This case study was produced by JISC RSC (Regional Support Centres) Northern on behalf of the Excellence Gateway.
Sector relevance: Sixth Form College, College, Further education college (including specialist college)
Keywords: Teaching and learning, learner support, virtual learner, using e-learning materials, creating and adapting e-learning materials, learning resources, teaching resources, motivating learners
This case study explores the development of an innovative online revision resource for A-level Biology students at Bede Sixth Form College. It is an interactive programme on the college's VLE which combines music and learning.
Bede College in Billingham is the smallest sixth form college in the country with approximately 500 learners and 30 teaching staff. Bede College is planning to merge with Stockton Riverside College in the near future.
Dr Richard Spencer is Biology Subject Leader and Learning Development Manager at Bede College. He has twice won a QIA Star Award: in 2004 for ‘Further Education Teacher of the year' and in 2006 for ‘Outstanding Subject Learning Coach'. He won the RSC Northern's regional ‘e-Learning Champion' award in 2006, at the same time as his colleague Learning Centre Manager, Paula Kilburn, won the ‘Outstanding Learning Resources Support' award.
Richard Spencer uses music and dance to teach A-level Biology students complicated topics. It helps students to remember processes and terminology which they might otherwise find difficult, dry or hard to remember. Students participate in songs and dances, which are a blend of fun and serious biology. Students are engaged by the songs and the lyrics can be designed to encourage students to verbalise and remember biological terminology.
As part of his teaching, Richard has developed a ‘Kidney Tour'. This is a themed physical tour through the College building where different areas within the building represent different areas within a kidney. When students take the tour and arrive at a part within the kidney where there is high pressure, they can hear a clip of the Queen song ‘Under Pressure'. Other music clips that are used during the tour are ‘Sugar Sugar', where glucose is reabsorbed, and ‘Yellow River‘ at the end of the tour; where the waste (urine) is passed through to the bladder. While doing the Kidney Tour, students are also quizzed about their knowledge and understanding of key events and processes.
The challenge was to change the actual tour into a virtual tour for revision purposes. It could then also be used months later, when students are studying for their exams.
The virtual tour was designed by Paula Kilburn, the Learning Centre Manager at Bede College. The resource essentially works as a series of web pages linked by hotspots on the graphics. Paula used NetObjects, an authoring package which is easy to use and produces functional and nicely designed websites. Knowledge of HTML is not required. The sound files were created using Audacity, which is an open source sound editing programme. The graphics were produced in SmartDraw and saved as jpeg files and imported into NetObjects.
Students can access the virtual tour via their VLE. When they can click on different areas of the kidney image, questions pop up about that particular area and the matching music clip is played.
The ‘Virtual Kidney Tour' has been up and running for over two years and other online revision tools have been developed since. Richard and Paula are also looking into developing the ‘Virtual Kidney Tour' further, with more interactive questions added and informative clues and answers included.
Since its creation, the ‘Virtual Kidney Tour' has received a lot of attention nationally and internationally. However, care needs to be taken that most music has copyright and cannot be used without a PRS licence; the use of clips is still considered a public performance.
When music is put onto a CD, you will also need a MCPS licence. More information is available from the MCPS.
Disclaimer: The Regional Support Centres (RSC) and the Quality Improvement Agency (QIA) support the development of educational e-learning. In the case study, we may refer to specific products, processes or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise, or link to websites or supporting material. Such references are not endorsements or recommendations and should not be used for product endorsement purposes.
You can find this page and download any referenced resources from the Excellence Gateway at http://excellence.org.uk/158999.
