Biology Curriculum Unit on structures and functions of Cells and their Assignment

Biology Curriculum Unit on structures and functions of Cells and their Organelles - Assignment Example The structures in cell are of both plant and animal cells. Although the students will be following the objectives for 8th grade Biology, they will spend much of their time researching the specific topics of the unit and creating products as a result of that research. A high degree of technology will be infused into the activities so that students will be able to use 21st Century technology skills to collaborate and produce products of learning. The problem-based learning activity dealing with the issue of cell recognition will encourage all of the students to gain a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the issues facing the cell. Students will be able to examine the process that has occurred thus far and give opinions about the cell. Students will be able to get the outcome. Students will be developing products of learning that are meaningful to them and appropriate to the activity in which they have participated. Students will create a multimedia presentation of their choosing in order to explain their findings. They will draw diagrams order to learn more about the cell. Collaboration on projects will occur through the use of the internet The activities in this unit, while teacher-facilitated, allow students to investigate topics that are meaningful to them, based on the cell. Students will be able to work both independently and in groups and collaborate with each other in person and electronically. While the basic parameters of the activities are laid out, students will be able to make choices about how to proceed with the activities and how they will present their findings. In all activities, students will be involved in creating the evaluation measurement. Students must have some basic knowledge of how to use technology for research purposes and must have parental permission to use the Internet. Permissions to participate in field trip activities must be obtained from

Edward Tufte put forward a series of principles for visualisations Essay

Edward Tufte put forward a series of principles for visualisations - Essay Example There is an importance of ensuring that such visual graphics are presented in a way that attracts and not repels the audience. There are various ways in which this might be achieved, and may include ensuring that the graphics are captivating to the eye and proper arrangement of the graphics is attained systematically in the graphical representation. The important aspects of presenting these visual graphics was investigated and presented by Edward Tuft, who presented an influential, approach of presentation of visual graphics through several principles. Tuft argues that graphical excellence in statistical graphics for example, must have complex ideas that are communicated with clarity, efficiency and precision (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 163). Therefore, tuft put forward a few principles that any graphical excellence has to abide with. ... These principles by tuft have to guide the design and presentation of any graphical presentation that effectively serves its purpose as was designed for. According to (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 163), Tuft further considers visualizations that have cluttered graphics, that are incomprehensible as tempting to remove the data. Cluttered information is therefore an aspect of poor design and cannot be considered as being affected by the data presented by such design. (Source: http://www.shadedrelief.com/world/) Fig. 1 example of a well designed geovisualization The geovisualization to be investigated against the Tuft principles of visualization is a man showing the physical features of the globe that is found in the following link (http://www.nacis.org/data/world_map/map1/world1/world_map1.html. ). This geovisualization has been selected due to its unique presentation aspects that the designer of this map incorporated and the different perspectives in which the map can be viewed a t. This geovisualization also portrays contrasting features as presented the designer and offers a good model through which Tuft principles of visualization can be well understood. The geovisualization portrays aw old map with all the important physical features visible and with descriptions well embedded in the map. It is an informative geovisualization that can be used to make decisions concerning this subject. One of the conditions as given by Tuft in designing visualization is that such visualization has to be clear and present the graphics and data with precision (Seintra, Adriaansen & Liere 2009, 163). The geovisualization in question has well portrayed these conditions in that the maps as representing the continents are clear and well visible with precision, it is