Peer Review

Animation of Kidney Dialysis

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Dec 29, 2003 by Health Sciences

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This is an animated illustration for the mechanism of kidney dialysis. It
shows the paths of the fluids and the transport of individual molecules across
partially/differentially membranes during the proces of dialysis. The site is
part of a much larger site called Spinneret which consists of
more than 200 HTML files on more than 80 Biological topics - and has been
mirrored to a new site (Biotopics) which is currently being developed
further: http:// www.biotopics.co.uk .

Type of Material:

The site is an animated illustration of kidney dialysis.

Recommended Uses:

Kidney dialysis is difficult for some to understand because it has several
fluids going in several different directions as well as molecules moving in and
out of the fluids. This illustration would provide a visual reinforcement for
the content. It would support the concepts of dialysis following the content
delivery.

Technical Requirements:

No add-ins, applets or templates are required to view this site. No special
viewing software is required. The downloads are quick and animation begins
immediately once it is open in the browser.

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The Learning goal is to explicate the process of kidney dialysis

Target Student Population:

This illustration would be useful to students at any level between high
school and college. It would be a good illustration in any forum where the
concepts of kidney disease and dialysis is discussed.

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

dialysis and how molecules move across membranes.

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The content offered in this site is fairly simple once you understand the
concepts of dialysis. It provides a very nice visual illustration for the
various components of the fluid transfer and molecule movement during the
process.

Concerns:

This animation is good as far as it goes, it illustrates the movement of
molecules during dialysis. The process is complex and this only illustrates one
small aspect.It does not address the movement of water and does not include
pressure gradiant information or osmolarity of the various solutions.The reader
is encouraged to investigate the entire web site.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

The site is easily accessed and does a good job as a "snap shot" of
clarifying a complex process.

Concerns:

It is only a snapshot and other information will be needed to provide
additional content.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The ease of use is one of this site's strengths. The animation downloads
quickly and begins without any action by the user. It continues without any
action by the student. Faculty could link to the site and have a quick addition
to a presentation of content that offers clarification of concepts for
students.It would make a good illustration as part of the overall
content for dialysis.

Other Issues and Comments:

Students frequently have some difficulty understanding this
process. This site will benefit students and faculty as they are discussing the
concepts and content of dialysis.

Creative Commons: