Performing international outreach: PhUn Week in an Australian primary school

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Halpin
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Set Up ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Family Vacation

Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week is an annual science outreach program sponsored by the American Physiological Society in which K–12 students learn about physiology through meeting a physiologist and performing an experiment. Performing PhUn Week at an Australian private primary school during a family vacation in 2014 enabled me to receive a fellowship to return the following year for further implementation. To set up the outreach, I contacted the assistant principal of a public primary school, and she connected me with the physical education (PE) teacher. Together, the PE teacher and I planned the event. Over the course of 2 days, I taught eight classes, a total of 176 K–12 students. I started each lesson by explaining the role of a physiologist. The scientific method was described and explained. A hypothesis, “Exercise increases heart rate,” was designed and tested. The students measured their heart rates, exercised, and measured their heart rates again. After data collection, results were reported, and the students all agreed that their hypothesis was supported. We then discussed heart function and why heart rate increases with exercise. The students then performed a pedometer challenge, where they estimated the number of steps during walking, running, and kangaroo hopping. They enjoyed testing their predictions and repeated these experiments several times. The students then made suggestions of ways they could continue this lesson outside of school. This first report of an international PhUn week confirmed that these events form partnerships among educators and inspire K–12 students to think about becoming scientists.

scholarly journals What Good Is a Scientist in the Classroom? Participant Outcomes and Program Design Features for a Short-Duration Science Outreach Intervention in K–12 Classrooms

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Laursen ◽  
Carrie Liston ◽  
Heather Thiry ◽  
Julie Graf
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Program Design ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Content ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Interest In Science ◽  
New Science ◽  
Collegial Support ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
K 12

Many short-duration science outreach interventions have important societal goals of raising science literacy and increasing the size and diversity of the science workforce. Yet, these long-term outcomes are inherently challenging to evaluate. We present findings from a qualitative research study of an inquiry-based, life science outreach program to K–12 classrooms that is typical in design and excellent in execution. By considering this program as a best case of a common outreach model, the “scientist in the classroom,” the study examines what benefits may be realized for each participant group and how they are achieved. We find that K–12 students are engaged in authentic, hands-on activities that generate interest in science and new views of science and scientists. Teachers learn new science content and new ways to teach it, and value collegial support of their professional work. Graduate student scientists, who are the program presenters, gain teaching and other skills, greater understanding of education and diversity issues, confidence and intrinsic satisfaction, and career benefits. A few negative outcomes also are described. Program elements that lead to these benefits are identified both from the research findings and from insights of the program developer on program design and implementation choices.

scholarly journals The in’s and out’s of science outreach: assessment of an engaging new program

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia J. Metz ◽  
Sarah Downes ◽  
Michael J. Metz
Keyword(s):  
Science Teachers ◽  
Respiratory Physiology ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Science Careers ◽  
American Physiological Society ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
High Level ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Science Activities

Many professors are interested in providing science outreach to local K–12 students, but may not have the time or resources needed to create an engaging presentation. The American Physiological Society supports outreach initiatives through programs such as the Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week. Building on these activities, it was desired to create and assess an immersive and engaging Outreach Program in a disadvantaged K–12 student population. Three distinct modules were created on cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology, and oral health. All resources for these modules underwent peer review and publication, allowing other professors to easily execute their own outreach programming. The outreach modules were presented to 288 students in 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade classes. Implementation of the modules resulted in significant increases in student content knowledge, ranging from 32 to 57% improvement ( P < 0.001, dependent t-test), with an average increase of 46%. K–12 science teachers reported that the program was at an appropriate educational level, increased students’ enthusiasm for science, and increased students’ exposure to science careers. Additionally, the presenters of the Outreach Program were perceived to be enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and proficient at interacting with the students. On open-response survey items, the science teachers indicated a high level of satisfaction with the program and an enthusiasm for continued collaborations. These results indicate the importance of organized and interactive science activities for the success of a new Outreach Program.

The Use of Social Media in Facilitating Participatory Design

2018 ◽  
pp. 209-235
Author(s):  
Fatimah Alsaif ◽  
Brenda Vale
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Participatory Design ◽  
Virtual Space ◽  
Classroom Design ◽  
School Students ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Set Up

This chapter examines the effectiveness of using social media as an aid to primary school students participating in the design of their classroom interior layout. It describes two different attempts to do this that achieved varying degrees of success. Where a blog and Facebook page were set up to provide a virtual space for classroom design to happen, and despite teachers' expressed enthusiasm for involving students in the design of their classroom layout, very few participants resulted. However, one school successfully used the virtual space to show the work of the children and this example is described in the chapter. Social media was of more use in a second example where it formed an additional channel of communication between the researcher in the role of architect and the students. However, here it built on face-to-face communication, suggesting social media can aid in participatory design but is not a substitute for the latter.

scholarly journals Developing a science outreach program and promoting “PhUn” all year with rural K–12 students

2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-216
Author(s):  
Jana L. Hendrickson ◽  
Thomas K. Bye ◽  
Benjamin A. Cockfield ◽  
Kathryn R. Carter ◽  
Steven J. Elmer
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Service Learning ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Outreach Program ◽  
Student Interest ◽  
Science Outreach ◽  
Upper Peninsula ◽  
Hands On ◽  
K 12

Demonstrating how science relates to human health is an important step for generating K–12 student interest in health-related careers. Science outreach is often performed in urban areas; however, ~20% of K–12 schools are in rural areas. Michigan Technological University is located in Michigan’s upper peninsula, which accounts for 30% of the state’s land mass but only 3% of the total population. Our goal was to create a science outreach program for reaching K–12 students in our rural region. We assembled a team of undergraduate and graduate students, staff, and faculty to implement science outreach with K–12 students. Specifically, we leveraged existing national and international science outreach events [Physiology Friday, Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week, National Biomechanics Day] to offer hands-on physiology and biomechanics activities during the year. Between 2016 and 2019, we connected with 31 K–12 schools and impacted 327 elementary (19%), 351 middle school (21%), and 1,018 high school (60%) students (total impact 1,696). Over 90% of the outreach visits took place at the K–12 schools. The hands-on activities were delivered by more than 85 undergraduate and graduate students and 10 faculty. Together, the supportive culture and resources within the department (e.g., outreach coordinator, participation from students and faculty, grant funding) were key to developing the program. We recommend starting with a single outreach event, working as a team, and being flexible with K–12 schools. The program also provided service-learning and professional development opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. Our robust science outreach program promoted “PhUn” all year-round with rural K–12 students.

scholarly journals High heart rates in hunting harbour porpoises

2021 ◽  
Vol 288 (1962) ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgitte I. McDonald ◽  
Siri L. Elmegaard ◽  
Mark Johnson ◽  
Danuta M. Wisniewska ◽  
Laia Rojano-Doñate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Marine Mammals ◽  
Dive Duration ◽  
Breath Hold ◽  
Peripheral Tissues ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Record Heart Rate ◽  
Field Metabolic Rates ◽  
Dive Response

The impressive breath-hold capabilities of marine mammals are facilitated by both enhanced O 2 stores and reductions in the rate of O 2 consumption via peripheral vasoconstriction and bradycardia, called the dive response. Many studies have focused on the extreme role of the dive response in maximizing dive duration in marine mammals, but few have addressed how these adjustments may compromise the capability to hunt, digest and thermoregulate during routine dives. Here, we use DTAGs, which record heart rate together with foraging and movement behaviour, to investigate how O 2 management is balanced between the need to dive and forage in five wild harbour porpoises that hunt thousands of small prey daily during continuous shallow diving. Dive heart rates were moderate (median minimum 47–69 bpm) and relatively stable across dive types, dive duration (0.5–3.3 min) and activity. A moderate dive response, allowing for some perfusion of peripheral tissues, may be essential for fuelling the high field metabolic rates required to maintain body temperature and support digestion during diving in these small, continuously feeding cetaceans. Thus, despite having the capacity to prolong dives via a strong dive response, for these shallow-diving cetaceans, it appears to be more efficient to maintain circulation while diving: extreme heart rate gymnastics are for deep dives and emergencies, not everyday use.

scholarly journals Enhancing EFL Students’ English Competency Through Drama: A Case Study in a Primary School in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 68
Author(s):  
Chen Yuanyuan
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Core Competencies ◽  
English Drama ◽  
Drama In Education ◽  
Efl Students ◽  
Language Competency ◽  
Set Up ◽  
K 12 ◽  
Competencies Development

Drama courses are widely set up in K-12 education in Western countries, and drama in education promotes both language acquisition and drama acting in the West. Therefore, in the current K-12 education curriculum in China, the practice of offering English drama courses is in line with the needs of students&rsquo; core competencies development. Drawing on the participants&rsquo; interview narratives, classroom observations and journals, based upon the case in a foreign language primary school in Guangzhou, China, this study examines how the drama course is carried out and how the students&rsquo; English competency is enhanced through the drama course. The enquiry revealed that the drama course had helped promote both students&rsquo; language competency and drama acting capacity. These findings will be discussed with suggestions for making setting up drama courses in other schools and cities in China possible.

scholarly journals Effect of sotalol on heart rate variability in patients with atrial fibrillation (clinical observation)

2020 ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
E. P. Popova ◽  
O. T. Bogova ◽  
S. N. Puzin ◽  
D. A. Sychyov ◽  
V. P. Fisenko
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
Heart Rate Variability ◽  
Drug Therapy ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Spectral Parameters ◽  
Patient Will ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Vegetative Status

Spectral analysis of heart rate variability gives an idea of the role of the autonomic nervous system in the regulation of chronotropic heart function. This method can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy. Drug therapy should be carried out taking into account the individual clinical form of atrial fibrillation. Information about the vegetative status of the patient will undoubtedly increase the effectiveness of treatment. In this study, spectral parameters were studied in patients with atrial fibrillation. The effect of sotalol on the spectral parameters of heart rate variability was studied.

scholarly journals Cyclic bouts of extreme bradycardia counteract the high metabolism of frugivorous bats

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Teague O'Mara ◽  
Martin Wikelski ◽  
Christian C Voigt ◽  
Andries Ter Maat ◽  
Henry S Pollock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Energy Conservation ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Fat Reserves ◽  
Daily Risk ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Energetic Expenditure

Active flight requires the ability to efficiently fuel bursts of costly locomotion while maximizing energy conservation during non-flying times. We took a multi-faceted approach to estimate how fruit-eating bats (Uroderma bilobatum) manage a high-energy lifestyle fueled primarily by fig juice. Miniaturized heart rate telemetry shows that they use a novel, cyclic, bradycardic state that reduces daily energetic expenditure by 10% and counteracts heart rates as high as 900 bpm during flight. Uroderma bilobatum support flight with some of the fastest metabolic incorporation rates and dynamic circulating cortisol in vertebrates. These bats will exchange fat reserves within 24 hr, meaning that they must survive on the food of the day and are at daily risk of starvation. Energetic flexibly in U. bilobatum highlights the fundamental role of ecological pressures on integrative energetic networks and the still poorly understood energetic strategies of animals in the tropics.

Aspects of lymph-heart function in Rana catesbeiana

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (12) ◽  
pp. 2125-2130 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J Esbaugh ◽  
M Hazel ◽  
D P Toews
Keyword(s):  
Heart Rate ◽  
Femoral Artery ◽  
Rana Catesbeiana ◽  
Heart Function ◽  
Heart Rates ◽  
Axial Coordination ◽  
Venous Circulation ◽  
Lymph Heart ◽  
First Time ◽  
Sampling Times

The effect of voluntary dives on the posterior lymph heart rate of the bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana, was tested and compared with the blood-heart rate (n = 6). This was performed by cannulating the posterior lymph heart and femoral artery simultaneously. Blood-heart rates during submergence were significantly lower (α = 0.05) then pre-submergence rates at all sampling times. In contrast, the lymph hearts showed significantly lower rates only during the first and last submergence intervals. It is believed that the lymph-heart bradycardia found during these intervals is due in part to the physiological "preparations" for diving by the frog. Further information regarding posterior lymph heart contractions was gained by cannulating two posterior lymph hearts on one side of the frog (n = 5). It was found that these hearts beat within 100 ms of each other between 66 and 97% of the time (α = 0.05). The combined contraction of the three posterior lymph hearts could facilitate the movement of lymph through the outflow valve and into the venous circulation. This study represents the first time the axial coordination of homolateral lymph hearts has been shown to extend to the multiple posterior lymph hearts.

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