Progress on animation speed and Flipbook

Since Flipbook doesn't let you change the number of frames per minute (speed of animation), there are a few ways to adjust to get your movie to slow down. When making your presentation, by duplicating each slide a few times before moving on to your next drawing, you can effectively cut the speed in half (or more, if you'd like).

Flipbook also allows you to export your animation as a .pdf file, in case you wanted to print it and make an actual paper flipbook. This is a nice feature. I'm going to look into seeing if I can use those images in another program to advance them one-at-a-time (like in PowerPoint) to make them easier to explain. I'm sure that it's possible.  More to follow...

Screenshot of exported .pdf of DNA Replication Flipbook .gif

Using Flipbook to animate Bio things

Here's my example from class, using Flipbook to illustrate DNA Replication.  I'm going to have to try to figure out a way to slow it down to make it more readable, but we'll get there eventually.  Maybe I'll Jing the Flipbook...

Web tools for bio presentations

As you think of ways to capture/present your info for the DNA to Protein project, check out this website, called Web 2.0 Cool Tools for Schools.

There are links on the sidebar for presentation tools, slideshow tools, and drawing tools.  Many of the programs on this site are new to me, but they're worth checking out.  One might be perfect for you.  Prezi, Voicethread, and Jing might be good options for this project.

DNA to Protein Project

DNA to Protein assignment:

This short project will cover three things: the basic structure of DNA, an explanation of replication (how and when it is copied), and an explanation of how it is used to code for proteins (transcription and translation). 

Part 1: DNA Structure.  You must show the following:

1.      The structure of DNA nucleotides (sugar, phosphate, and the 4 different nitrogenous bases, how they fit together/complementarity)

2.      The arrangement of those nucleotides into the shape of a double helix

3.      Proper alignment and representation of 3’ – 5’ direction of strands

Part 2: DNA Replication. You must show the following:

1.      Explain the process and outcome of semi-conservative replication, including the role of the enzymes helicase and DNA polymerase, origins of replication, and replication bubbles.

2.      A brief explanation of why DNA replication is important to cells and organisms

Part 3: Protein Synthesis.  How the DNA molecule directs the synthesis of proteins (contains instructions for making them).  Include the following:

1.      The DNA strand must be exactly 25 base pairs in length.

2.      Show the mRNA before editing, with proper details of RNA nucleotides

3.      Show the editing process (get rid of the junk)

4.      Explain the role of tRNA at the ribosome; show how amino acids are added

5.      You must end up with a polypeptide chain of exactly 5 different amino acids

6.      Your must use the correct start and stop codes.  Look them up.

You may work backwards or forwards (start with DNA code and find out what you get, or start with the amino acids you want, and go backwards) depending on how your brain wants to do it.  Keep track of your work, use pictures, and show every step.

You may show this electronically, with video or animation and narration, with a model, or in words and pictures.  The slides, photos, and images you use must be your own.  The end product will be a blog post that explains the goal of the project and walks the reader through the steps.  This assignment is due before you leave for Winter Break, by class time on 12/17. 

Get started.

Transcription and Translation

Watch these three videos on Transcription (making of mRNA) and Translation (assembly of protein). I think they will be helpful for you to visualize the two processes.  We'll be doing a project on these starting tomorrow, so pay close attention to the sequence of steps.

Transcription:


Translation:


And then the two processes, in order, sped up, with much cooler graphics:

Resizing embedded video

If your Jing video is bigger than the space allowed on the page, you'll need to resize it. Choose the EDIT POSTS option on the Dashboard. Go into the Edit HTML tab so that you can see the embed code. In the first line or two, look for "Width" and "Length." You'll have to change the width to something around 500, height to something around 300. Play around with these numbers until it's the right size (but try to keep the proportions the same).

See if this helps:

Diffusion and Osmosis Assignment

Your next assignment involves two parts:
1) make a short PowerPoint presentation to explain the processes of diffusion and osmosis
2) use the web tool Jing to share that information on your blog, posted by class time on Friday 12/3

We'll talk in class about how to use a series of PowerPoint slides to animate a simple process (like molecules moving).  Then you'll need set up a free Jing/Screencast account to record the presentation along with your narration.

If you weren't in class, here's a quick video to show how you might use Jing for this project (or for any class).  This was made with a series of PowerPoint slides and simple narration over the top.



This video will show you how to embed your Jing video into your blog post.  (It's not a a Jing to show you how to Jing.  I'm not even sure if that's possible!)

The First Assignment - Why Blog?

Your homework is to answer the following question: Why blog in biology?

I know the short answer might be "because I have to for class," but that's not enough.  What do you hope to accomplish or show over the course of the year with your blog?

This article by Wesley Fryer (written more for teachers, but useful for you to think about) might help to explain what I'd like you to get out of the class blog project, and is worth considering before writing your answer.

I suggest that you also search the web for some other examples of high school biology blogs (by students, not by teachers).  Feel free to link to them on your post -- use a hyperlink, not just a pasted link, please.  We'll get into including more media (video, Jing, Prezi presentations, etc) in future posts.  For now this is more of a writing assignment.  Post your answer on your blog.

Starting your own blog

As we talked about in class, you need to start your own blog on Blogger.  Put some thought into your title.  Keep it simple and appropriate.  It should also have something to do with Biology.  If it's not appropriate, I will ask you to change it.

Feel free to view Ms. McCurdy's class blog for additional ideas.

There will be assignments later this week regarding your first post, so you can focus now on design elements (background, widgets, font, color, etc).

Answer the following questions before clicking Submit so that I can add your blog to our class list:

Welcome to the blog

Hello 9Lilley Biology!

This is going to be our class blog. You'll be required to check in periodically to read posts and articles of interest, current events, and information that will be helpful to you in studying science this year. Occasionally you'll be asked to comment here on articles and blog posts. We will go over directions and guidelines for that (and guidelines for setting up your own blog) soon.