Hard-Wiring for Success: Simplified Teaching and Assessment of the Mammalian Heart Dissection

 

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2015, Volume 36

Daniel L Martin

Abstract

At the University of South Alabama, we taught the age-old exercise of mammalian heart dissection in an innovative, more active way, using easily accessible materials (colored wire and Velcro). The simple methodology was hypothesized to work effectively at a variety of levels, but mainly by increasing: cost-effectiveness; student engagement; reinforcement of concepts; assessment efficiency; and, learning outcomes. Tested hypotheses include: i) learning outcomes (quiz grades) are affected by teaching method (old vs. new); ii) new methods helped lower-performing students. The method failed to increase learning outcomes; reasons and fixes are discussed in the poster.

Keywords:  dissection

University of Oregon (2014)