Heart Engineering Activity
Jeff Dodds
Abstract:
This is an activity which works well at the end of a human heart
discovery unit. It could be classified at the synthesis level
of Bloom's cognitive hierarchy of learning. Students use their
knowledge of the human heart and create a new heart with slight
variations in anatomical structure. Students are given a story
about an alien nation who suffer from hearts which fail early
in their lives. The students are asked to design an artificial
heart which will help the aliens extend their life expectancy.
Students can make their artificial hearts using an array of materials.
Preparation and Materials:
Very little preparation is needed!! The students are presented
with a story (I have included the story I have used) which will
establish a central purpose for the assignment. Along with the
story, students are given the anatomy specifications of the alien
heart (I have included my heart anatomy specifications). Finally
the students need some materials to build their artificial heart.
I definitely recommend Play Doh in an array of colors. It is important
to remind your students not to mix the Play Doh unless you want
your Play Doh to resemble a Greatful Dead T-shirt. Aside from
the Play Doh, I use what ever I can find to represent other structures
of the heart like pipe cleaners or wicke sticks to represent arteries
or veins.
About the Assignment
I give this assignment to students at the end of a heart unit
because it allows the students to use their currents knowledge
of the heart and apply it to a new situation. I give the students
a handout which includes the story, alien heart anatomy and the
method of evaluation. I do not give the students a lot of personal
direction or attention because I want them to rely on themselves
to develop their artificial heart. It important to provide students
with alien heart anatomy which is similar to that of humans but
not so close to human anatomy that they can model their alien
heart out of textbook pictures. Further I ask to student to draw
and color their heart from their model, label the heart using
their own (UNIQUE) terminology, and provide a written description
on how blood would flow through their heart (heart mechanics).
Teaching Tips for the Assignment:
Very often this is a fun day for me, the teacher because I have
a grand time watching the students enjoy learning. I found as
I present this assignment to students, they look at the assignment
then look at me with confusion. Reason, their minds are having
trouble creating. When I get those looks of confusion, I tell
the student to at least try and make the heart according to the
anatomical specifications. As extra incentive I give a reward
to the student who designs the most original heart. It is also
important that their heart works mechanically!! Students will
commonly put structures where ever they please. In this situation,
the student's creative process is in motion but they are missing
the other point of the assignment. Students must understand they
have basic freedoms in their heart's design, but they do have
to produce an artificial heart which would work mechanically.
As a teacher I want to examine each alien heart. During the examination
I have the student tell me how blood would flow through their
heart. A variation to this method of assessment would be to have
the students individually talk about their heart to the whole
class. Further assessment comes from heart drawings, heart labeling
(using their own terminology), and a mechanical description.
THE ACTIVITY (as given to my students):
It is the year 2500. The Plant Earth has discovered many new planets
which contain life. Some life forms are almost human-like aside
from a few features. Your star-ship has just landed on an undiscovered
planet. Unfortunately when the star-ship entered the planet's
atmosphere a grand ion charge zapped your star-ship's power supply.
To repair your star-ship, you need to find the mineral reggeti.
You decide you will lead your crew in a search for the substance.
In a short time you meet a human-like alien colony calling themselves
Xyphoids. Your crew is excited to meet this population because
you hope they know how to located reggeti. In brief time you discover
the alien population can speak your language so you inquire about
reggeti. To your surprise the leader knows where the mineral can
be found, but he will only you show on one condition. The Xyphoids,
ever since their known existence, have hearts which fail at a
very young age. For years they have tried to invent an artificial
heart without success. The alien population knows your technology
is more advance than theirs. They will lead you to the reggeti
source if you can successfully make an artificial heart for their
population.
Xyphoid anatomy:
- 3 chambers in their heart
- 2 heart valves
- 1 lung
- 3 major vena cava entering the heart
- 2 pulmonary arteries
- 3 pulmonary veins
- 2 arteries leaving the heart to supply the body with blood
Assignment:
- Use the PlayDoh and other materials to make a CROSS SECTION
(cross section means to leave an area of the heart open so the
teacher can observe your internal design) of the heart which corresponds
to the Xyphoid anatomy. The heart must work mechanically (meaning
the your creation must be able to pump blood to the one lung and
bring it back to the heart. Further your valves must be placed
in logical positions).
(REMEMBER don't mix the PlayDoh!!!)
- Draw your heart creation in the space below or on the back
of this page (color is encouraged)
- Label your valves, veins, arteries, chambers and other structures
(use original terminology)
- Describe (use your unique heart labels) how your heart will
work mechanically. Describe how it will move the blood to the
one lung and out the rest of the body.
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