The program also contains mini-labs on breathing rate, the alimentary canal, heart rate, and muscle contraction. These four laboratories or experiments are well presented, but nothing like the real thing. For example, students are asked to gather data by counting the rate of respiration after one variable has been changed, such as the ambient temperature. The results are graphed on the next screen, and the student is asked several questions about the results. This is a far cry from actual observation, but probably as close as the computer can simulate.
Instructions are clear, the visuals are excellent, but the labs lack the excitement of discovery.
The first screen allows a student to choose any of the dissections or experiments. Students must completely finish each lesson before going on to the next, which makes review a little frustrating. Most of the pictures are excellent and clear, but the one of the frog's tympanic membrane was inexplicably fuzzy. The QuickTime movies are very jumpy, with too few frames on each one to make them run smoothly, but students can look at each frame individually. The user manual that comes with the program is simple and contains what generally appear to be fairly obvious instructions on how to use the program.