Committing Information to Long-Term Recall
In an innovative move to make learning more engaging and effective, Dr. Sarah McConnell, an assistant professor in Neuroscience, has developed a hands-on activity to teach the challenging subject of embryonic lateral folding within embryology. This activity, initially tried with Play-Doh, was later switched to yarn due to its ability to better demonstrate the continuous, flexible nature of tissue folding.
McConnell, along with her fellow faculty members, tested and implemented this hands-on lesson with students. The activity sets the foundation for understanding not only anatomy but also development and disease.
The hands-on activity focused on the complex process of embryonic lateral folding, a subject that can be difficult for students to visualize. Students found the activity enjoyable and helpful, with many verbally expressing their appreciation for the creative approach to a complex learning objective. They found the activity approachable, colorful, and fun.
The hands-on lesson, as part of the broader curriculum, has proven to be effective. Students' higher quiz scores reflected their positive feedback about the activity's effectiveness. This success was further validated by the publication of a paper about this lesson, with McConnell as the first author, in the prestigious journal Anatomical Sciences Education.
Dr. Christopher Mooney, an assistant professor of Medicine and co-author on the paper, emphasized the importance of this hands-on approach. He stated, "The hands-on activity enabled students to physically experience and better understand lateral folding, which is crucial for their future careers in medicine."
The hands-on activity has proven to be a robust memory scaffold for students, helping them understand and revise the concept of embryonic lateral folding. As McConnell continues to teach this subject, she is confident that this innovative approach will continue to make a significant impact on her students' learning experiences.
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