News and Reviews
Reviews of Gene Journey
‘This educational website is a fantastic genetics resource aimed at helping students to
understand how the science of genetics impacts on the lives of those with genetic conditions. There are clear, simple
animations explaining basic concepts in genetics, video clips giving an insight into the lives of those with genetic
conditions and a virtual cytogenetics lab which allows the user to carry out the analysis of a sample of amniotic
fluid.
The site was developed with scientific advice from a number of experts and is suitable for students ranging from GCSE
to undergraduate level.’
BioNews: Recommends
http://www.bionews.org.uk
‘We have used Gene Journey software... It was a tremendous success as judged both by feedback from students over usability and in their reports clarifying the more complex topics of several forms of meiotic non-disjunction.’
Dr Kevin Moffat, Biological Sciences,
Warwick University
‘A simple, easy to use interface with easily accessible and clear information, compared to a typical maze of menus and options on other software I have used.’
Jon Lewis, Biochemistry Undergraduate
Warwick University
‘I have used the site with GCSE and sixth form students for homework tasks and extension activities. I was a big fan of the Illumination CD-ROM... and am very impressed with the additional features on the website.
Allowing pupils access to the site individually means that they can run through cell division as many times as they wish to understand it.’
Cathy Spencer, Biology Teacher,
Wallington School
‘Loved all of it... really helped me to get a clearer understanding of how processes worked out in practice. Can now visualise it in my head better!’
Katy Brown, Biological Sciences Undergraduate,
Warwick University.
‘Animations were excellent, easy to follow and complete. Cleared up any confusion I had before using the software. The explanations were also good, covering lots of relevant information.’
Alice Edgeworth, Biomedical Sciences Undergraduate,
Warwick University.
Gene Journey Workshops in Germany, September 2010
Dr Tina Read is very grateful to Egbert Weisheit for inviting her to Germany to give workshops about Gene Journey to science teachers. Egbert Weisheit is the German representative of “Science Across the World” (www.scienceacross.org), an initiative of the Association of Science Education (www.ase.org.uk) to encourage the development of international links for students studying science. Tina gave a workshop at a conference of science teachers - MNU Landestagung Hessen in Kassel. She helped the teachers to set up a sample debate. They all voted initially on the question ‘I think PGD should be legalised in Germany’. They debated amongst themselves, and the final vote recorded any change of opinion over the course of the session.
Tina Read with Egbert Weisheit at the German science teachers conference, MNU, in Kassel, Germany
Tina shows teachers at her MNU workshop how to set up a debate using Voters' Views
Tina ran the same debate at an in-service training day at the Friedrich-Wilhelm School in Eschwege. In this workshop the teachers also played a video clip from Gene Journey of a woman explaining why she wants this treatment. All the video clips in Gene Journey are subtitled which is a really useful feature for people using the site who do not have English as their first language. Tina is grateful to GlaxoSmithKline for funding the education programme which covered the costs of her visit:
http://lakk.sts-gym-kassel.bildung.hessen.de/kooperation/index.html
Human Genetics Commission Workshop with Schools, Liverpool, September 2009
Nobel Prize winner, John Sulston, chaired the workshop with students from five Cheshire and Merseyside schools.
Tina Read is a member of the Human Genetics Commission Consultative Panel. She worked with the commission to organise their first workshop with school students.
They were invited to discuss a series of issues relating to human genetics with Commissioners and to answer a series of questions on each issue:
‘It was brilliant to have my views taken into account alongside the country's top scientists.’
GCSE student, Neston High School
Genetics Workshop is featured in the Lancashire Evening Post, June 2009
Tina shows Becci Hughes and Will Bell how just a single base pair deletion in her DNA has caused her own inherited bone condition.
Dr Tina Read ran a workshop at Preston Sports and Technology College with GCSE triple science students about genetic testing in children.
The workshop covered genetic testing for Huntingdon's Chorea and cystic fibrosis. Video from Gene Journey was used in the workshop and the students had an animated debate:
‘It has been good as we have learnt about the two different sides of the argument from everybody.’
Becci Hughes
‘Fun, interesting and informative.’
Will Bell
Gene Journey is featured in Triple Science News
Learning and Skills Network (LSN) run the Triple Science Support Programme which is designed to make Triple Science GCSEs more widely available to pupils in English maintained schools. Learning Skills Network produce Triple Science News; Gene Journey has been featured in two editions.
This article is based on the Video Viewpoints 2 section of Gene Journey.
This article highlights the main features of Gene Journey.