n 2005, high school biology teacher, John MacLellan created a new set of hand built, magnetic cell biology teaching models. MacLellan and his students had an immediate connection to his one of a kind teaching models resulting in MacLellan developing the company VIRTmac in 2007. VIRTmac stands for: Visual Interactive Revolutionary Tactile Magnetic Classroom. VIRTmac models are now used in over 1000 classrooms around the world.
VIRTmac - Cell Biology Manipulatives for Teachers and Students
> a brilliant unifying model for teaching all aspects of cell biology
> hands down the most cost effective teaching models on the market - nothing comes close!
> easily demonstrate dynamic and complex cell processes
> students are not passive observers during lessons
> students love to touch and manipulate the model
> covers curriculum for grades 8,9,10,11 and 12
> the term interactive is sometimes too easily used, but VIRTmac students can really get involved
> can be used to teach 40 or more different lessons
> VIRTmac models evolve as the curriculum evolves
TEACHER QUOTES:
> the model saved a lot of time
> it is so good to have a model that covers so many aspects of cell biology that you can manipulate and develop further
> it's a whole new approach for me and I would use it without hesitation
> I was particularly impressed on how we can use this model to explain oxidative phosphorylation and photophosphorylation - very difficult concepts to get across.
> Cell size! How obvious a way to explain surface area to volume ratios!
> daring departure from mainstream teaching
> In thirty years, I have seen nothing that rivals this as a means of enabling students to discuss the chemical processes of life
STUDENT QUOTES:
> I understood biology for the first time because I can see the cell parts moving
> For once, I was able to fully understand what was going on in the process instead of just memorizing a bunch of words out of the text book.
> I cannot imagine learning biology without the VIRTmac model
> Now that I am in University I wish my professors would teach some of their lessons with the VIRTmac models.
Three VIRTmac learning kits are available: http://www.biologyteachingtools.com.
Company Name: VIRTmac CreatorContact Person: John MacLellan
Email:Send Email
Phone: (519) 472-0549
Website: http://www.biologyteachingtools.com
Source: www.abnewswire.com
