A Model Demonstrating Respiratory Mechanics for High School Students. Chan, Vivien, Jeanna Pisegna, Rebecca Rosian and Stephen E. DiCarlo. Department of Physiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities, College of Medicine, Rootstown, OH 44272.
APStracts 2:0006S, 1995.
ABSTRACT
We wanted to develop educational materials appropriate for the high school student which would present physiological concepts in an innovative way. The impetus was in response to the lack of physiology educational materials appropriate for the high school level. To this end, we developed an exercise that presents the physiological basis for respiratory mechanics. The materials were designed to engage students in interactive learning and stimulate interest for future science study. The emphasis of the exercise was the construction of a model that could be built by high school students to demonstrate respiratory mechanics. Using models to present complex materials has been shown to be an effective medium for science learning. Our exercise contains directions for an inexpensive, easy-to-build model, as well as many supplemental teaching tools. Questions are interspersed throughout the text and at the end of the laboratory experience to facilitate the learning process. Answers are provided to the questions. Students and teachers alike are challenged to build, manipulate and discuss their experience during the investigation of respiratory mechanics.

Received 4 August 1995; accepted in final form 7 February 1996.
APS Manuscript Number S0019-5.
Article publication pending Advances in Physiology Education.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 20 March 96