SPC biology professors create lab CD

Amanda Hurt, staff writer

 

The Biology Department at South Plains College is receiving national attention because of a biology lab on disc developed by Leanna Smith and David Etheredge, assistant professors of biology.

The two professors made a presentation on April 1 at the National Science Teachers Association Convention in Dallas on the CD-ROM they created to allow students to view lab materials at home.

“ The people at the convention were really interested,” said Etheredge. “We handed out sample CDs and gave ideas on what they could do to help their students.”

During the session, they addressed how they created the CD using digital images, both regular and microscope, and software applications.

The idea for the CD started in 2003 when Smith noticed that after the first exam students weren’t performing like they should.

“We got the idea to put the study material on the web, but ran into problems due to browsers and dial-up,” said Smith. “We then decided to put it on a disk using Power Point where we found out it was difficult to navigate through. Our third attempt is the disk we use today. The disk is a user-friendly HTML-based version, which runs with a browser.”

Smith and Etheredge took hundreds of digital photos of the specimens and dissections and wrote more than 600 HTML pages for the disk.

The CD-ROM is used for Biology 1407, an intense survey course designed for science majors. It is given to students in the second week of class.

“This CD helps students a lot,” said Etheredge. “ With six sections of classes using the biology lab during the day and even though the lab stays open till 10 p.m., it’s difficult for commuting students and others to go back to the lab and study. The CD is a means for them to study the lab material without having to leave their home.”

The CD is very easy to navigate. A menu on the left-hand side of the screen assists students in moving easily through a lesson, and the CD contains quizzes and screen tip pop ups or hot spots, so students can better review for an exam. It also contains a visual tour of the lab materials covered by various exercises.

“I believe the project has a lot of potential,” said Etheredge. “SPC zoology and botany teachers have began to take interest in it, and the students are benefiting from it.”

Smith has noticed that the CD is having a positive impact on grades. Before the CD was created, students averaged 75 on the first exam. Since then, the average has risen to 82.

For more information on the CD-ROM contact, Smith at 894-9611 ext. 2318 or Etheredge at ext. 2319.