home. 
join in our programs.
TEL small grants program.
2001.
implementing
and evaluating the use of computer peripheral equipment in the
entry level human anatomy and physiology laboratory site
principal investigator(s)
| Dr. Murray Jensen |
|
|
contact information
|
|
department/campus address
|
|
Associate Professor
General College
220 Appleby Hall |
|
| Telephone |
|
| 612-625-0093 |
|
fax
|
|
| 612-625-0709 |
|
e-mail
|
|
| jense005@umn.edu |
|
project description and contribution to the advancement
of TEL
Two courses will be impacted by this proposal. General College
Human Anatomy and Physiology course (GC 1135) is a freshman
level science course that is offered during the fall, spring
and summer sessions and enrolls approximately 400 students
each year. The course meets each week for two hours of lecture,
one hour of computer lab, and two hours of traditional (hands-on)
lab activities. The lecture and computer lab components of
the course make extensive use of technology enhanced learning,
but the lab is in need of updated equipment.
Students in GC 1901 Humans and the Earth will use the iBooks
to research environmental topics and learn how to use Power
Point to compliment oral presentations. The iBooks serve as
a mobile computer classroom for my GC 1901 seminar. (Technology
Enhanced Learning is being added to GC 1901.) Students in
the course are required to research environmental topics on
the Internet and then prepare PowerPoint files to complement
oral presentation.
In the GC 1135 lab, students perform activities such as dissecting
hearts, brains, etc., and perform a few physiology experiments
on respiratory capacity using outdated spirometry equipment.
The intent of this TEL proposal is to provide equipment and
funds for the development of three new lab activities (curriculum)
for the GC 1135 that allows students to collect data from
their own bodies so as to measure their own health and fitness
(foci #1 within the TEL Call for Proposals). Additionally,
the equipment will be used in GC 1901 Freshman Seminar: Humans
and the Earth by students to gather information about the
environment that will be used in both oral reports and research
papers.
Students who enroll in GC 1135 are frequently taking the
course to fulfill their CLE graduation requirements (i.e.,
biological science with lab); for most it represents the last
formal education they will ever receive relating to the health
and function of their own bodies. Many of our students smoke,
use drugs, get tattoos, etc.. and don't associate those behaviors
with long-term effects on their bodies. The goal of this project
is for students to collect real, living, data from their own
bodies though the use of computer peripheral sensory equipment
that can measure students heart rates, EKG patterns, and respiratory
volumes.
The peripheral equipment (heart rate monitors, EKG monitors,
and spirometry equipment) is all manufactured by Pasco, a
company that specialize in making computer peripheral sensors
for education. All equipment is safe and easy to use.
Sample Lab Activities: In the heart rate/EKG lab, students
will measure their heart rates and see/record their EKG patterns
while lying down, then standing up, and then after performing
"The Harvard Step Test," which is a very low intensity
exercise. Through the use of the EKG data, each student will
be able to document basic cardiac functions such as atrial
and ventricular depolarization and repolarization.
In the spirometry lab students will measure their tidal volumes,
vital capacities and vital capacities. Students will be required
to create lab reports that compare the* own data to other
students in the course, and eventually, to large databases
of information that will be collected each semester. Additional
comparisons will be made from populations of individuals with
pathological conditions. For example, students will be required
to research how smoking effects the respiratory system and
then show how their own vital capacity compares to individuals
who smoke or have respiratory diseases such as emphysema.
Money from the TEL grant will go towards purchasing 6 iBook
computers with AirPort internet connection equipment. General
College will purchase all computer peripherals and fund the
development of the curricular materials. All activities will
take place in the GC 1135 lab which has limited Internet accessibility.
However, through the use of the AirPort equipment students will
be able to both up-load and down-load their data to the course
web site. Note: all activities will take place either in the
GC 1135 laboratory, or in the GC 1901 Freshman Seminar. Both
will make use of the AirPort hardware and software. - ~
The course web sites will be used in three different ways
for this project. First, Web based instruction will be used
to show students how to set-up and operate the equipment,
e.g., how to hook-up the peripheral equipment, how to record
their data, etc. Students will complete the tutorials prior
to the lab activities and will familiarize them with the steps
required to complete the lab. Second, the web will serve as
a data recording and storage area where students will have
access to their data wherever they have access to the Internet.
Pasco equipment allows users to directly up-load data into
files that are readable on the Internet. Students will use
the large databases for their lab reports. Third, the web
will be a posting site for model student lab reports. We have
learned through experience that posting all student lab reports
is not a good idea, however, posting exemplary projects provides
students with examples from which they can form their own
lab reports.
This TEL project is innovative because we are making medical
equipment available to freshman anatomy and physiology students.
Historically, having students record their own EKGs and other
health data has required the use of expensive medical equipment.
Some programs have had student field trips to medical schools
or hospitals to engage in such activities. However, recent
advances in technology, namely the USB ports and large price
reductions in the peripheral sensors, have made these activities
possible for a wide array of students. The technology is not
new, but it has been so expensive that is has been rarely
used in introductory science programs.
evaluation
The first form of evaluation will come from students who
complete alpha versions of the lab activities. Initially,
we will run the lab with our summer school students and will
ask for feedback on the experience. We will use that information
to modify the labs. We will continue to ask for student feedback
though the many years we plan on using the equipment and will
make modifications to the curriculum when warranted. Second,
Dr. Eric Bauer, Professor in the department of Genetics, Cell
Biology, and Development, will observe the lab in operation
and make suggestions for improvement. The third form of evaluation
with be through the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society,
an organization that specializes in undergraduate anatomy
and physiology education. I will make at least two presentations
at the HAPS annual conference and receive feedback on the
activities from members for improvement and modification.
And fourth, as a form of summative evaluation I will write
at least two papers on the use of the equipment with General
College students: one paper for The Human Anatomy and Physiology
Society, and a second for either The American Biology Teacher
or the Journal of College Science Teaching.
timetable and budget
| General College Funding |
TEL Funding |
$ 10,000 for...
Purchasing peripheral sensors
PASCO hardware and software including,
but not limited to, five sets of
Curriculum development. Fund for the
Principal Investigator and the GC 1135 Lab
Coordinator to develop and refine all
curricular materials.
|
$ 10,000 for...
Purchasing 6 iBook Macintosh Computers
also accompanied with AirPort Hardware and
Software (appx. $1666 per unit).
Estimated Costs: 10,000
|
collegiate and departmental support
The General College Compact makes a tangible commitment to
TEL, and has supported the TEL grants and initiatives of its
faculty generously over the years. Once again, the College
is committed to providing both cash and in-kind support (in
clerical and accounting assistance) to make this project a
reality.
sustainability
The intent of the TEL grant is to provide a foundation upon
which many years of effective lab
activities will be implemented in these courses. Human anatomy
and physiology has been a core
science course in the General College curriculum for many
years. The college has supported the
course by hiring professors who can both teach the course
and perform research in how student learn
anatomy and physiology. Additional support was added this
past year when a full-time lab assistant
was hired to help run the labs. The lab assistant will be
helping with all phases of the project.
Experiences gained through the use of the TEL project will
be shared with the faculty of General College through a faculty
seminar presentation. Each year General College faculty are
encouraged to present to their peers progress of their research
endeavors. Since principal investigator Murray Jensen is the
instructor of record for the course, there will be no difficulty
integrating this project into our present curriculum.
relevant URLs
GC 1135 Web Site http://www.gen.umn.edu/faculty_staff/jensen/1135/
Pasco Web Site (Peripheral Equipment)
http://www.pasco.com/
IBook Website (Computers) http://www.imac.com/
home.
join in our programs.
TEL small grants program.
2001.
back to top.
