Ecology

School Science Review,
Volume 90, No. 332, March 2009.
Reviewed by: Chris Clegg,

Ecology Workbook and Ecology CD-ROM

Biozone manuals and workbooks are popular with many teachers, despite the additional expense they represent. Whilst a workbook is not a textbook, it is designed to complement such resources by provision of well targeted activities and exercises. In effect, it is designed to support active learning by various pen-and-paper challenges, largely other than by traditional practical work (or extended field investigations, as in this topic). Photocopying of the resources is prohibited, so each student would require a copy of this resource if it is to be closely followed.

The workbook divides ecology into six sections: Ecosystems. Energy flow and nutrient cycles, The dynamics of populations, Practical ecology, Classification and, finally, Changes in ecosystems. The structure of the resource is well explained with a concept map, followed by a listing of other relevant published resources and statements of the I meaning of commonly used terms. A feature of Biozone is the link it provides to specific Internet resources introduced via a dedicated web site - appropriately explained at the start of the book. The genesis of this resource was in New Zealand, but this presentation of ecology touches on habitats and organisms from biomes from all over the world.

The focus of this series of books on understanding by activity rather than by didactic explanation has to be applauded. It explains their popularity with teachers, I think. Much of the subject matter of Ecology applies to current AS/A2 specifications, although it is not exclusively targeted on the needs of any one UK examination group. Necessarily it contains superfluous subject matters, to varying extents. To my mind, the absence of colour in the very grey pages of this resource is a major disadvantage, but no doubt many users are able to overcome the rather drab appearance of the pages that they require their students to focus upon.

The numerous 'slides' that make up the CD-ROM resource are organised under the same headings as in the workbook. Given the absence of colour in the latter, the beautiful and colourful quality of the images on the CD-ROM is a major advantage. The idea of the images presented here is to provide slides that can be used in lecture-style presentations. As such, it is slightly at odds with the main thrust of the workbook, which clearly facilitates individualised, structured, activity learning. Nevertheless, teachers committed to incorporating Biozone resources into their teaching and learning will resolve this conundrum without difficulty. The visual impact of the slides is remarkable. Generally, they are not otherwise readily accessible for classroom teaching on ecology.