View attractive, three-dimensional models of an animal cell, a bacterium, or a plant cell. Suspended in a translucent, undulating cytoplasm, are all of the major organelles for life science learners to examine. They can zoom in, click on a structure, and read about its function.
Concepts
Additional Tags
App Overview
Features:
- Ability to zoom in and out
- Ability to rotate each cell around in space
- Three different levels of informational text, appropriate for different grade levels
- A back button returns user to the main menu
- The cell wall can be viewed or removed to visualize the contents for the plant cell
Curator Rating
-
Adherence to task
If you are in need of more information about bacteria structure, this app lacks it
-
Worth the money
Free
-
Fun factor
Rotating and exploring the three cells is entertaining as well as educational
-
Scaffolding of learning
-
User safety
-
Control and feedback
Instructional Ideas
Introduce life science learners to the structures within a cell for the first time by letting them explore with iCell. Create a worksheet with similar diagrams and have learners label and describe the organelles with the help of this application.
Classroom Considerations
There are only four structures featured in the bacterium. There are eight for the animal cell and ten for the plant cell.
The informational text is accurate, and you can choose basic for upper elementary learners, intermediate for middle schoolers, or advanced for beginning high school biologists. Whereas this is a visually-appealing application, there is not much to do other than to zoom in and out, rotate the cells, and read about the different organelles. It could wear out its welcome quickly, so do not reserve too much time for exploration.
Pros
- Attractive graphics
- Ability to rotate cells to provide alternative views
- Customizable reading levels
Cons
- Limited number of organelles included, especially for the bacteria cell