Intro to Jing and Macromolecules

This week you will investigate how to use a Jing sceencast to support and explain complex content. Before you can do this, though, you need to download jing. It's a pretty straightforward process, but please let me know if you have any questions. Here's a quick tutorial on the downloading process and how the program works.




Okay, once you have the tools in hand, here's the task: create a 1-3 slide powerpoint to explain the function and structure of one of the four categories of macromolecules (carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids). Make sure your explanation is clear and easy to follow. Once you are satisfied with your jing video, please upload it it your blog. Here's a quick little demo jing on dehydration and hydrolysis reactions. Thought it might give you an idea of what I'm looking for (though I'm sure yours will be better than mine!)

Building Carbohydrates

In class on Friday we built carbohydrates. We started with glucose and then created fructose molecules. We then simulated (simplified...) dehydration reactions to make maltose). Check it out!



After we were happy with our maltose molecules we decided to get a little more complicated....Check out our class polysaccharide!!





Now, if we used 8 maltose molecules to make our class polypeptide, how many water molecules were produced??

The Wonders of Water

Approximately 80% of the Earth's surface is covered in water. The human body is more than 60% water. That is a lot of H₂O molecules!!

There are many properties that make this chemical unique and vital to all living things.

Watch this Prezi presentation on the amazing properties of water. The presentation was put together by an 8th grade teacher at another school. Disregard the assignment he poses at the end. Just focus on the properties of water.

8 Properties of Water on Prezi

Next check out these two video clips that show properties of water in action....

Use the information above, your own hands-on experience with water molecules in class today, and any other information you can find on the internet or in your textbooks to write you own post outlining the unique properties of water. Pleas incorporate at least two pieces of multi-media into your write-up (remember, these should enhance your information, not just "make it pretty"!). The post is due by class time on Thursday. Use the comment section below to ask any questions on this assignment. I will get back to you as soon as I can.

First Assignment

Okay, here is your mission: become a blogger.

You have until Monday to create a personal blog and write your first post. The template does not have to be permanent. In fact, you will find that your blog should be ever changing and evolving. You will continue to come across "cool" and new tools to incorporate and implement.

Your first blog post needs to be a personal reflection. After you read through the textbook prologue and also the Honors Biology course description/expectations sheet(on the class website), I want you to write a paragraph explaining what you hope to get out of and/or learn in this class during the upcoming school year. I then want you to give an example of how technology or web tools might make this goal more achievable.

(note: this is a very broad question on purpose).

Please post any questions you have in the comment section below.