My research focuses on increasing the STEM education level in rural America. One facet of my scholarly efforts is
to develop innovative ways to teach core concepts through engaging laboratory activities. A laboratory activity I
created and have added to our Anatomy & Physiology 1 (A&P1) laboratory sequence is a demonstration of the
tissue level of organization of the human body using raw chicken. In the week before this activity, students studied
the microscopic histology of human tissues and noted their anatomical properties in a chart. We also discussed
the locations and physiology of the tissues in the human body. We observe that students find learning about
tissues at the microscopic level abstract and have trouble transferring this information to understanding the
organs and systems that make up the human body. In the new ?follow-up? activity, the students interact with the
tissues in a much more tangible way. In groups, the students work together to identify and describe the gross-
level physical characteristics of each tissue type and link this back to the anatomical and physiological properties
of that tissue type noted during the prior histology session. Student groups record their observations in a packet
of charts and photograph and label each tissue. After the activity, students are responsible for sharing the photos
and packet charts among group members. After the lab, each student submits an individual PowerPoint document
with a slide for each tissue. Each slide must include the tissue name, locations in the body, gross-level observable
physical anatomy, anatomy noted at the microscopic level, and tissue physiology information. Grading is
standardized using a rubric that includes points for the laboratory activity and the quality of the submitted final
assignment. We have also used this activity as the final laboratory session and project in the A&P1 laboratory.
Keywords: anatomy and physiology, tissue, chicken, anatomy, organs
University of Maryland (2024)
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