Hi everyone, This week you should be finishing off the cardiovascular system and moving on to the last unit on the lymphatic system. Compared to some of the other units this one is quite small you will be glad to know. There will be another week to do the cardiovascular system Blackboard test but with the final exam fast approaching I would urge you to catch up so you have enough time for the final unit and for revision.

I have had a few queries about the next Bioscience test so to summarise here: it will be on Friday June 19th at 9am in H415 and will be on Unit 3, the integumental system, Unit 4, the musculo-skeletal system and Unit 5, the cardiovascular system. It will be marked out of 60 with 20 marks for each of the 3 units. I have put up last year's version on Blackboard although I haven't yet sorted the answers-mainly because I am down to half speed with some lurgy at the moment! After the test I will do a revision session with you in preparation for the final test on June 26th.

Keep well and have a good week,

Cheers Ruth

Have a good week

June 2nd 2009

Hi Everyone, I did enjoy doing the heart and blood practical with you on Friday. You are all so enthusiastic and interested. Having done this practical should mean that you find the cardiovascular unit that you should be in the middle of studying now (?), much easier to understand and remember.

Today is the last day for the musculo-skeletal quiz so you procrastinators need to get a move on and get it done by 11pm tonight.

Test 2 will be on Friday June 19th at 9am followed by a tutorial to help you prepare for theFinal Exam which has moved to Friday June 26th from 10-12am. Note the change in your diaries please. I will post last year's versions of Test 2 and the Final Exam on Blackboard to give you an idea of the sort of questions to expect and to help you revise.

Have a good week,

cheers Ruth

May 25th 2009

Hi Everyone, I hope you haven't been washed away or developed webbed feet. Oh, for some sun or my washing will develop hairy green fuzz soon!

Today you should be thinking about moving on to the next unit on the cardiovascular system so you have at least read the notes in preparation for the practical on Friday where you will be dissecting a deer's heart.

I see most of you have completed the musculo-skeletal system quiz and got 100%. It will still be open for another week so if you want to brush up your mark or still haven't had a go yet (no names mentioned!) there is still time.

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday at 10am.

Cheers Ruth

May 18th 2009

Hopefully everyone has now had their marked Bioscience test 1 back. Get in touch if yours has not reached you yet. I was pleased with the general standard. Remember you needed to get above 40% to be able to do a resit. Between 40 and 60% you need to do a full resit on a new version of the test. This will take place between 9 and 10am at the next block course on May 29th. If you gained between 60% and 75% you need to do a partial test to get you up to 75% which is what we judge to show competance. We can do this partial resit by phone if you like or you can come in and see me. Get in touch with me about it if you haven't done so yet.

It seems everyone enjoyed the skeleton practical with the fresh cow's joint being the star of the show. It was great to see you really getting into it and not only finding all the structures associated with synovial joints but also finding tendons, blood vessels and the structure of the skin.

This week you should be well under way with the musculo-skeltal system, Unit 4, with a week to go before the quiz is due.
Have a good week, Cheers Ruth

Monday April 27th

Hello Everyone, I hope you managed to get a bit of a break and enjoy the amazing weather we have been having. I am now back at work and if you have sent me an email sorry for being so long replying but I should be up to date now. Email me again if I haven't replied to yours.

You should be finishing off the Unit 2 on the cell this week as the quiz is due in today (although it will not close until next Monday). The next Unit, due to start today, is on the Integument otherwise known as the skin. As intending massage therapists this is obviously an important system!

I have put up Test 1 from last year on Blackboard with its answers so make sure you have a look at that as it will give you a good idea of the sort of questions I will be asking in this year's version. Sarah and Chris pointed out that the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi Body in the cell diagram of that test looked similar so I would have marked either answer as correct.

Just note that test 2 is on June 19th not April 19th as indicated in Blackboard.

Looking forward to seeing you all on Friday May 8th at 9am in H602 for the first test and then a practical in H412 on the skin and skeleton. I will have a real joint for you to look at and dissect which is always interesting.

Have a good week,

cheers Ruth

April 20th 2009

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a good Easter. The weather was amazing wasn't it? I went to stay with a friend in Oamaru and explored Whitestone country-- Kakanui, Elephant rocks and even walked a labryrinth.

However, it is sort of back to work this week and I need to remind you that you should be thinking about finishing off the unit on cells as the next unit on the integument is due to start next Monday April 27th. The Cells quiz is due then, although if you want to leave it till the bitter end it does not actually close until the 4th May.

Remember the first test is on Friday May 8th. It will cover the introductory material plus chemicals (Unit 1) and cells (Unit 2). I will put up a copy of last year's first test on Blackboard under Assignments/2008 tests so you can see the kind of questions I will be asking and the level at which they are pitched.

Have a good week, Cheers Ruth

April 6th 2009

Hi everyone, we had a good practical cum tutorial this morning and it was great to meet you all again and get to know you better. For those that missed it I have posted a copy of the practical handout and the worksheet at the bottom of Course Documents on Blackboard. I have also put up the Powerpoint presentation of the microscope, cells and tissues I showed as well as two more powerpoints I thought you might find useful. One is on the Cell showing the cell organelles and their function and the other is called Cell Transport and is on Diffusion and Osmosis as well as active transport. This one also contains some web addresses to simple animations that are really helpful for understanding these processes. All these slide presentations are under Course Documents, Unit 2. The Cell.

This week you should be finishing off the chemicals quiz as it will close at the beginning of next week. You should now be getting started on Unit 3 on the cell. For those that have done almost no biology you will find there are lots of new words for the organelles (small organs) in the cell to get your head around---things like mitochondrion, Golgi body and endoplasmic reticulum. Sorry!

The timetable gives you 3 weeks to study this Unit, so hopefully this will allow you a bit of time off to enjoy Easter.

Dont eat too much chocolate!

Best wishes, Ruth