Grant Tablets add to interactive labs in Anatomy

During the Fall 08 semester, the HP tablet computers from the “HP Technology for Teaching Grant” were used in Biology 201; undergraduate anatomy laboratory.  The course is information intensive. Dyknow was used to create lab exercises and homework assignments, which presented the information in an interactive format.  Each student could identify the assigned structures on active panels, following the instructor on a projected image and labeling the structures on their tablet computers (as shown in the photos above).   Students shared the responsibility of identifying the structures as control of the teaching panels were shared with the students, increasing students' ability to interact and explain their knowledge of the structures.  Each undergraduate student is issued a tablet computer, however for a variety of reasons, not every student brings a tablet computer to class.  Though the most used on any one day was only 2-4 computers, the availability facilitated the entire class of 20 students.  Without the grant computers, using this software application would not have been attempted on the grounds of an inability to provide the same educational experience for all the students in the class.  At the end of the semester, polled students indicated the addition of the DyKnow software activities had increased their understanding of the subject, recommending continuing and increasing the use of DyKnow : “very helpful”, “I loved having the DyKnow reviews.  They were very helpful.”  Additional comments indicated the students perceived the addition of the DyKnow exercises aided in study and their overall class grade.

During the Spring 2009 semester, the HP tablets computers were again used in an Anatomy Lab (graduate course 506L) which were a great help for students who did not have their own laptops to bring to class to interact with the DyKnow software used during class.  A workshop of these DyKnow undergraduate anatomy laboratory exercises was presented at the HAPS (Human Anatomy and Physiology Society) Annual Conference held in Baltimore, MD in May 2009 and at the DyKnow Virtual User Conference, July 30, 2009. 

Quotes from Bio 201 and BIO 506 L students in reference to DyKnow software used on HP Tablets:

“very helpful” (BIO 201)

“I loved having the DyKnow reviews.  They were very helpful.” (BIO 201)

“Using DyKnow really helped me understand more of what we were learning. It was nice to have the option of going back into DyKnow from home.” (BIO 506L)

“it aided me in the lecture because I could actually picture what was being taught in lecture...” (BIO 506L)

“Sometimes. I normally do well in labs but I struggled a little on learning the brain. DyKnow helped with that” (BIO 506L)

“…when things were given in handouts and on DyKnow they were easier to understand.“ (BIO 506L)