Virtual Dissections

1
Virtual Dissections
Karen Trenholm Mary Cobb
2
Agenda

• The Issue
• Outcomes
• Our results
• Research
• Demonstrations
• Frog dissection with smart board
• Froguts
• Future possibilities?

3
The Issue

• Some students feel actual dissections are
  unethical
• Our schools Animal Rights Group voiced concerns
  about dissections
• We did not have experience using a virtual
  dissection of a frog

4
Background

• We investigated various software / virtual
  dissections available online
• We selected FROGUTS
• Goal We wanted students to compare an actual
  dissection to a virtual dissection
• To ensure students were getting the same
  experience from a virtual dissection

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Outcomes

• ICT
• SEHI 12.3
• critically analyze the impacts
• of evolving technologies on
• themselves, societies, and the
• environment
• RPSD 12.1
• select appropriate devices and software
• to collect data, solve problems and
• note patterns to make logical decisions
• and draw conclusions and to present
• results, with general supervision
• Biology 11
• Requires the study of two of the following body
  systems
• Circulatory
• Respiratory
• Digestive
• Excretory

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Our Results

• Obstacles
• Student opinions
• The virtual dissection was Not as messy
• I liked the actual dissection because I prefer
  hands-on and computer just wasnt the same
  because you didnt touch anything and every cut
  was perfect.
• Overall our students preferred the actual
  dissection.
• Our opinion

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Research

• New Orleans Rebecca S. Maloney
• University of Sydney, Australia - Director of
  First Year Biology, Elizabeth May

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Demonstrations

• Video of Smart board
• Froguts you try!

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Future Possibilities

• Transparent frog!
• Developing your own virtual dissection.

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Works Cited

• "Are Virtual Dissection Simulations an Acceptable
  Substitute for Real Animal Specimens." NEA Today
  25 (2007) 45. Education Research Complete.
  Ebsco. Sackville High School, Lower Sackville. 31
  Jan. 2008.
• "Cutting Controversy." Current Events 106 (2006)
  3. Canadian Reference Centre. Ebsco. Sackville
  High School, Lower Sackville. 31 Jan. 2008.
• Maloney, Rebecca S. "Exploring Virtual Pig
  Dissection as a Learning Tool for Female High
  School Biology Students." Educational Research
  Evaluation 11 (2005) 591-603. Ebsco. Sackville
  High School, Lower Sackville. 31 Jan. 2008.
• O'Keefe, Brendan. "Anatomy of an Alternative to
  Live Dissection." The Australian (2006) 30.
  Canadian Reference Centre. Ebsco. Sackville High
  School, Lower Sackville. 31 Jan. 2008.
• "Should You Cut That Frog." Current Events 102
  (2002) 3. Canadian Reference Centre. Ebsco.
  Sackville High School, Lower Sackville. 31 Jan.
  2008.
• "Under the Knife." Current Events 104 (2004) 3.
  Canadian Reference Centre. Ebsco. Sackville High
  School, Lower Sackville. 31 Jan. 2008.