Teaching Health Sciences with Technology

Faculty use a number of techniques to engage students in the Health Sciences. MERLOT modules can assist students in learning with a variety of techniques. Click on the link to see an example of each type of learning object.

• Collection Example
  A collection of subject-specific materials; for example, a collection of web sites, images, or applets.
• Animation Example
  The dynamic and visual representation of concepts, models, processes, and/or phenomena that allows users to view, on their own, such processes in space or time.  Users can control the pace of the visual presentation and can step backwards and forwards through the processes being viewed, but cannot determine and/or influence either initial conditions or outcomes/results of the visual presentation.
• Simulation Example
  A simulation involves an engine that drives the dynamics of the learning module in accordance with specific rules and that simulates real phenomena.  Users participate in an approximation of a real or imaginary experience where their actions affect the outcome of the activity.  Users must determine and input, on their own, the initial conditions of some dynamic scenario or set of circumstances that generate an output that is different from, and changed by, the initial conditions.
• Lecture/Presentation Example
  This category includes lecture and presentation support materials such as presentation graphics (e.g. PowerPoint slide shows), lecture notes, or audio-visual materials that are integral to the presentation – they are not stand alone or tutorial materials.
• Tutorial Example
  Sequentially organized information and activities with specific instructional objectives structured to integrate conceptual presentation, demonstration, practice, and testing to teach specific concepts or skills.  Users navigate through electronic workbooks to study, practice, and be tested on information designed to meet stated learning objectives.
• Reference Material Example
  Material similar to that found in the reference area of a library.  This can include subject specific directories to other sites, texts, or general information.  The material here has no specific instructional objectives or learning goals.