"Hands On" Anatomy in South Carolina

Seven years ago South Carolina health science technology teachers became extremely interested in teaching our anatomy and physiology standards using Anatomy in Clay® Learning Systems. Each year we have observed more of our health science programs purchasing this hands-on system for use in their classrooms.

This methodology using the student models and reusable clay has been exceptionally well received by administrators, faculty, and students. This teaching aid is an amazing and powerful tool to engage students in learning the body systems, structure by structure from the inside out. We have been very pleased with the evaluations from our faculty statewide and the students' feedback on their understanding of anatomy and physiology concepts.

The career and technical health science education teachers, all of whom are first career healthcare professionals appear motivated and energized using this strategy. Many have a new perspective on teaching these standards and now face the challenge of teaching this content as an opportunity - not an obstacle. Our teachers have even commented how much they have expanded their anatomy and physiology knowledge base by working with the Anatomy in Clay™ system.

Just last year, we also found our traditional science teachers expressing an interest in using this system. We are currently watching this strategy expand into our South Carolina high school science classrooms as well. We are continually seeking new ways to improve our students' academic and technical skills. We are grateful to have discovered of this unique way to teach anatomy and physiology. It is indeed our pleasure to recommend this learning system to others who have the responsibility of teaching anatomy and physiology to students from middle school to postsecondary courses.

Anatomy Internet Course in Iowa

Gail Wortmann, winner of Iowa's High School Teacher of the Year Award, discovered that she was part of a dying breed, she was an anatomy teacher. Anatomy across many schools in our nation is not a core science required for graduation. So teachers have to struggle to find the time and energy to design courses that are not required for graduation. As Iowa Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Wortmann spent a year traveling to classrooms around Iowa and discovered a large teacher shortage in the stateto help improve the quality of education for Iowa students. During that time, she discovered two things, a teacher shortage and a growing student demand for health careers' courses.

This is when Mrs. Wortmann teamed up with Iowa Learning Online and Iowa Public Television to develop a web-based anatomy and physiology. This course is now offered to high school students throughout Iowa and has received much praise.

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We are always looking for interesting articles about great anatomy or health science teachers and their courses. So if you are a teacher doing something inventive in your classroom or would like to share some of your experiences in the classroom, email us your article. We look forward to hearing from you.