BioTutor Excalibur is educational science software designed for students taking a high school or basic college biology course. This application by Interactive Learning, Inc. is not designed as a complete biology course (despite the packaging that says it is). Instead, this is a tutoring tool to help students practice for multiple-choice tests as well as supplement and review the biology concepts they've learned elsewhere.
BioTutor Excalibur is structured as a multiple-choice test. However, for each question you'll have access to feedback and hints and instruction. Basically, the application works like this: On the chapter selection screen you can choose from 24 broad chapter topics. Once you choose a topic, you'll see a multiple-choice question for that topic. If you know how to answer it, go ahead; otherwise, click on "Learn" to see a tutorial on whatever concept the question covers. If you're still unsure of the answer, click on the "Explanation" button to bring up information on answering that specific question. Almost all of the tutorial information is text-based. You can also see your test results—the number of questions you've answered and which ones you've missed—at any point along the way.
This educational science software relies on multiple-choice questions and text-based explanations as its major teaching tools. While you will see some simple charts and graphics as well, the application lacks a wide variety of teaching tools for different learning styles. This lack is somewhat understandable because BioTutor Excalibur is not necessarily designed to teach new concepts. It is a practice tool, a tutoring tool to reinforce what students have already learned. It also allows students to practice answering multiple-choice test questions and to refresh their minds about concepts they might not have completely understood.
The wide variety of topics that BioTutor Excalibur covers includes:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Cells (Organelles)
- Cells (Plasma Membrane)
- Bioenergetics
- Mitosis & Meiosis
- Classical (Mendelian) Genetics
- Human Genetics
- DNA Structure & Replication
- RNA & Protein Synthesis
- Origin of Life & Evolution
- Bacteria, Viruses & Protists
- Invertebrates
- Vertebrates
- Skeletal, Muscular & Integumentary Systems
- Digestion & Absorption
- Circulation, Respiration & Immune System
- Renal System (Kidneys)
- Nervous System
- Endocrine System (Hormones)
- Reproduction & Development
- Fungi & Non-Vascular Plants
- Vascular Plants
- Ecology
For each topic there are about 25-30 randomly generated multiple-choice questions, though one chapter had only 17 and several had over 40. For each question there is an available learning tutorial and a specific explanation to help guide students to the correct answer.
BioTutor Excalibur is easy to install. Additionally, the application is not difficult to use. Navigation buttons at the bottom of the screen are clearly labeled and take you where you need to go. Pull-down menus and corresponding icons at the top of the page also facilitate navigation. While the graphics on the icons are not related to their function, there is mouse-rollover text that tells you what clicking on the icon does. The interface is not slick or pretty, but it is functional enough. The feel is a bit clunky and dated, a little reminiscent of DOS-based applications from the 80s. None of this really interferes with its actual educational value, but it would be nice to see a more engaging and updated interface.
We did have one small concern with the interface of this educational science software, one that does interfere with its functionality just slightly. Every feedback box has to be acknowledged by hitting its OK button before you can do anything else. For example, when a "wrong answer" feedback box pops up, you have to click OK before you can move on to the next action you want to take—such as getting further instruction on answering the question. It's not a huge problem, but clicking OK on every box did get tiresome.
Interactive Learning has an email and phone number for technical support listed on their website.
BioTutor Excalibur's lessons and instruction are mostly text-based, and the application centers around helping students answer various multiple-choice questions. Therefore, this educational science software seems best suited for students enrolled in a high school or basic college biology course. It is not designed to be a stand-alone biology course; instead it is a tool to help students supplement their course instruction and reinforce concepts they may not have completely understood. BioTutor Excalibur could also be helpful to anyone needing to review biology they've already learned—like someone preparing for an AP test or college entrance exam.
