Using STEAM to make models for anatomy and physiology classrooms

Abstract

Anatomy is a course that entails a high mental load. It can be challenging for students to visualize complex structures and relate them to function. The purpose of this study was to find a better way for students to visualize complex anatomical structures in anatomy and physiology courses, especially within the nervous system. To bridge this gap, students created models demonstrating the relationship between anatomical and physiological structures in the human body. Students utilized STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) to create their models. Before implementing the model, students learned the background information on the topic, which scaffolded and guided students rather than having them teach themselves. During the implementation of the treatment, students completed a pretest and posttest about the content of the study. The entire group of students showed a statistically significant increase between the two tests. Students also maintained a journal throughout the project, indicating that they enjoyed using STEAM and creating a model while preferring nontraditional learning methods over traditional ones. Furthermore, students expressed that modeling helped them better understand how the various parts of the nervous system worked together. Overall, students not only enjoyed the creativity and hands-on learning required for modeling, but they also were able to make meaningful connections about the anatomy and physiology of the body.