Virtual Cell Animation Resource Series Updated in NCLOR

The Virtual Cell Animation resource series has been updated in the NCLOR. This resource series from the World Wide Web Instructional Committee at North Dakota State University is a set of high-quality animations of molecular and cellular processes. This collection has been developed to introduce students to new concepts. By walking through the still images and a movie included for each topic, viewers are in control of choosing the learning style that best fits their needs.

There are a total of 25 resources included in this series on the topics of molecular and cellular processes as well as cellular energy conversion. The animations added with this update include: Glycolysis – Overview, Glycolysis Reactions, The Citric Acid Cycle – Overview, The Citric Acid Cycle – Reactions, and Energy Consumption.

All items in this resource series now have a YouTube video (closed captioned) and a flash-based movie of each animation, a zip file of annotated still images from the animations, and a text file of the animation narration (where needed).

Example: Energy Consumption: An Overview Video

All resources in this series are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The suggested NCCCS courses for these resources are: BIO092, BIO110, BIO111, BIO275, BIO265

To access this series, you can do any of the following:

• Log into the NCLOR and click on “Browse by Resource Series” and then the Virtual Cell Animations series.
• If you are NCCCS faculty, you can add the links to the resources directly to your LMS based course. (learn how)
• Simply, click Virtual Cell Animations to view the series as a guest.

Open Learning Initiative Resource Series Added to NCLOR

Fourteen courses from the Open Learning Initiative were added to the NCLOR.  The Open Learning Initiative (OLI), based at Carnegie Mellon University, is an open educational resources project that strives to transform instruction, significantly improve learning outcomes and to achieve significant increases in productivity in post secondary education. The Open Learning Initiative is supported by the National Science Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and others.

The topics of the courses include: Biology, Economics, Math, French, Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics. The courses are  exemplars of scientifically based online courses and course materials that enact instruction. The courses are designed based on learning science research.

The list of the courses along with the recommended NCCCS course the resource may enhance are outlined in the chart below.

To access this series, you can do any of the following:

• Log into the NCLOR and click on “Browse by Resource Series” and then the Open Learning Initiative series.
• If you are NCCCS faculty, you can add the links to the resources directly to your LMS based course. (learn how)
• Simply, click here to view the series as a guest.

OLI Course List Chart

NC BioNetwork Collection Updated

Six new learning resources have been added to the NC BioNetwork collection of the NCLOR. The newly added resources included in this addition are: Performance Verification of an Analytical Balance (video), Strawberry DNA Extraction (video), pH Meter Calibration (video), Manufacturing Safety & Awareness (tutorial), Preparing for the Professional Interview (tutorial) and the VINSIM – Virtual Vineyard (Simulation). These new resources join the other 53 outstanding resource also included in the NC BioNetwork collection.

To access this series you can do any of the following:

• Log into the NCLOR and click on “Browse by Resource Series” and then the NC BioNetwork series.
• If you are NCCCS faculty, you can add the links to the resources directly to your LMS based course. (learn how)
• Simply, click here to view the series as a guest.

Virtual Cell Animation Resource Series Added to the NCLOR

The Virtual Cell Animation Collection resource series from the World Wide Web Instructional Committee at North Dakota StateUniversity is a set of  high-quality animations of molecular andcellular processes. Currently, these animations represent transcription,translation, bacterial gene expression, messenger RNA (mRNA)processing, mRNA splicing, protein transport into an organelle,the electron transport chain, and the use of a biological gradientto drive adenosine triphosphate synthesis. All items in this resource series have a flash-based movie, zip files of annotated still images from the animations and a text file of the animation narration.

For more information about the use of Virtual Cell Animations in the classroom, review this study on using the collection in the classroom.

To access this resource series:

1. log into the NCLOR  < www.explorethelor.org > or through your institution’s learning management system (LMS)
2. navigate to the Browse by Resource Series area
3. click on the Virtual Cell Animations series.

This series was suggested for inclusion by: Don Hazelwood, Distance Learning Director at Pitt CC.

New STEM related Resource Series from Wisc-Online added to the NCLOR

A new science, technology, engineering and math related resource series from Wisc-Online has been added to the NCLOR. Over 1000 learning objects  that include subjects ranging from Anatomy and Physiology to Technical Physics are available in this series. There is also a large collection of Health related learning objects as well. The learning objects in this series have been designed and developed by a team of instructional designers, editors, technicians, and student interns from the Wisconsin Technical College System.

To access this resource series:

1. log into the NCLOR  < www.explorethelor.org > or through your institution’s learning management system (LMS)
2. navigate to the Browse by Resource Series area
3. click on the Wisc-Online series.

The Explorer™ Virtual Microscope Resource Series has been Updated.

The Explorer™ Virtual Microscope collection has been updated in the NCLOR. The collection now includes slides for Multicellular Animals, Single Cell Organisms and Multicellular Plants.

Virtual Microscope is a fully simulated experience of using a real microscope. Focus, slide placement, magnification choice & moving the stage controlled by mouse are all features available in Virtual Microscope. Virtual Microscope as a simple user interface with high quality micrographic images. There are five magnification settings with 3D rendering of microscope with mouse controlled perspective changes. The collection is only available to North Carolina Community College System educators.