April 1, 2013 (Vol. 33, No. 7)
URL:
http://bit.ly/YXeOP3
Rating:
Strong Points: Nice drawing interface, various drawing tools
Weak Points: Limited number of templates
Platform:
iPad/iPhone
Cost:
$1.99
Summary:
Coloring books (or iPads, in this case) are not only a great childhood pastime, they are also useful tools for students of anatomy. The Draw Biology app brings these two uses together in an app that, while geared toward a younger audience, is an informative and engaging tool to teach some basic anatomy and cell biology. App users are given templates (either with or without anatomical labels) that they can color and label using a variety of brush strokes, fonts, and colors. The templates are grouped into three categories: body parts (heart, kidney, lung), body systems (respiratory tract, digestive system, urinary system), and cells (animal and bacterial). With only eight templates in all, the app is not very expansive. Hopefully more templates are added in the future. Still, the coloring features are fun and this app still has enough material that it can probably keep a curious child occupied for some time.
