Thursday, January 22nd, 2009...12:21 pm
Bird Autopsy- Via GlowMeet!
As John Connell reported yesterday, an Autopsy was performed on a dead Fulmar bird by Dr Jan Andries Franeker, a senior scientist at the Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem studies in the Netherlands. It was broadcast via video (GlowMeet) on the Glow portal.
Yesterday my Higher Biology class and I were lucky enough to participate in this live autopsy. The autopsy was performed at the Sea Bird Centre at North Berwick. The topic of ‘Adaptation’ forms large part of the Higher Unit 2 syllabus. In the past I have mainly taught this using static resources and the odd Youtube clip. However to have an autopsy performed on a subject (dead of course) had the added advantage that the pupils could ask questions as the procedure took place. Throughout the autopsy Dr Franeker covered:
- Physical anatomy of the bird (age, sex and specific adaptations)
- Internal Organs and systems (nice piccie of the stomach here
) - Behavioural adaptations and feeding habits (did you know that up to 25% of the birds weight can be the contents of it’s stomach!)
- Cause of death (natural)
A big well done to all at the Sea Bird Centre and the Glow team for successful delivery of the session.
My classroom pictures can be found on Flickr here
‘Beeb’ Scotland report here
On a ‘wee’ technical note, I am pleased to say that both sound and audio were very clear most of the time. It was also great to see that the Marratech platform was not hindered by the 22 users present (at my last count).
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Tess Watson
5 Comments
January 30th, 2009 at 12:02 am
Hi Tess. I saw coverage of this event in national press. Part of me says that its great to see ICT being used in this way but I’m also saddened that pupils are less likely to see this being done in their own schools by their own science teacher. Is GLOW really the best way ahead for autopsies (called dissections in the past) or should wee be campaigning for a return to a more ‘hands-on’ approach?
February 18th, 2009 at 10:02 am
I’ve been thinking exactly the same thing as Donald. I’m a biologist now but didn’t do Biology A level at school. However, one of my abiding memories of school is the stink of the dissecting formalin in the corridor by the biology lab. As an undergraduate I remember trying to hack my way into a skate and that disgusting smell that came out when you opened up a bird or a rat. I’m not sure I remeber too much about the internal organs or muscles.
I know there are difficulties providing animals for dissection, financial and moral. When I was a post grad at Glasgow and a demonstrator in 1st Year labs, one of the lecturers always refused to teach any labs which involved killing animals including invertebrates (I can’t remember how she dealt with Drosophila).
Looking back, I wonder what benefit it was to me to carry out the various dissections that we did. I can’t say that I learnt anything particularly relevant from my badly done dissections, apart from how tough a skate’s skin is – we might have been better watching ones that were done really well. Perhaps in these days of climate change when we are so much more aware of Man’s destructive influence on the environment, we should be teaching a greater level of respect for other living things. Students who go on to take their studies further can always learn dissection at a stage where they really need hands on experience to further their research.
I’m not sure I meant to write all this when I started this comment! I don’t teach biology but I’m not sure I can see the relevance of individual – or group – dissections any more at Higher level, particularly when there are opportunities/facilities like this one. I’m sure these days there are other areas of biology where time and resources are better spent.
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
OMG MY HEAD LOL
June 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
OMG MY HEAD LOL
IM SO COOL
December 28th, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Interesting how technology is spreading through education. What was once a process only seen by a few can now be broadcast over the net allowing thousands of participants. Amazing and wonderful at the same time!
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