MULTIMEDIACOMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL FOR TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE

Multimedia computer packages have replaced the frog heart and sciatic nerve-gastrocnemius muscle preparations as teaching practicals. The so ftware incorporates high-quality still and animated graphics, sound, a nd video which together encourage an extensive level of user interacti on. Undergraduate students using the packages were surveyed and the ov erall response was Favourable. There was a general impression that the y enjoyed the exercises, and they indicated that multimedia extensions helped in the understanding of the theoretical concepts. Student opin ion of the packages was not significantly influenced by prior experien ce of computer technology, nor by a predominant mathematical or biolog ical background. There was a high rank correlation between computer as sessment and traditional assessment by written examination. Multimedia computer technology represents a powerful aid in the teaching and ass essment of biological science.