Review for:The Cell Cycle Control Game

posted: on April 16, 2007 at 10:01AM

Cell cycle

I was teaching about the control of the cell cycle and CDK and cyclins role in checkpoints.

I wanted my students to review all the stages of the cell cycle and be able to select the correct sequences of events with out using their notes or other resources.

A.P., Honors or Advanced, Intro or Regular

I had students work in pairs and access the website with one computer for each pair. They playe dthe game together. I walked around and helped students when they were stuck, but to make sure that they were paying attention to the key events of each part of the cell cycle.

Provides visualization or animation, Provides access to remote instrumentation, Provides a virtual lab, Provides practice or tutorial, Provides additional content, Provides assessment opportunity, Increases student engagement and motivation

It was a very good review of the key steps of the cell cycle and consequences when they did not make the correct choices (the cell explodes and they have to start again). At the end of the games there are some nice added features such as what happens to a cell when the controls are not working properly and a nice film of the M-Phase.

It is a little goofy, and sometimes high school kids respond to that by being "too cool" to pay attention. I have found that if I explain that it is a goofy game and to "get over it" they get a lot out of the activity.