The Rat Stack

Producer: Quentin-Baxter, Dr. Megan

The Rat Stack is an interactive CAL program which provides a realistic learning alternative to performing a rat dissection. The Rat Stack contains over 300 low resolution (72 dpi) images and 30,000 lines of data and programming code. The rat (either male or female) can be viewed from two angles (above and side) and a full dissection is illustrated, including: examination of the external features; dissection and study of the abdominal structures (gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive systems) and structures in the thoracic cavity and in the neck region; and exposure, removal and examination of the brain. 300 (unlabelled) histology images showing up to 4x magnification of cellular detail are included along with some diagrams. Annotations appear on the computer screen to identify every structure in the dissection. Questions are automatically generated around the image on the screen; for incorrect answers The Rat Stack can show students where the structure is located, or students can attempt questions again.

Details:

Medium: Downloadable from website
System requirements: Any Macintosh computer with HyperCard 2.0 or 2.2 Player
Price: Freeware
Note: The program was developed to be used with the video Rat Dissection/Anatomy Resource Digital Video (see separate entry), using high quality laser videodisc technology which is now almost completely out of date. However, the program is up to date and is free to download, and the use of the program is permitted for educational purposes. The program was part of the now unavailable multimedia program FARID - Functional Anatomy of the Rat (Interactive Dissection). Anyone wishing to re-code a program of interactive software using this material will almost certainly be given permission, but please contact the author for this permission in writing. The material is offered as it is, and no technical support is provided