Show me the Nervous System!

High School biology teacher Hilary Staples uses ShowMe (@showmeapp) to transform students into teachers:

In order to review what they learned during their unit on the Nervous system students needed to be able to explain various concepts such as the anatomy of the brain, how we hear, see, smell and taste, and neurons. In addition they needed to understand the more complicated physiology of how neurons communicate, create electrical signals and transfer information chemically across the synapse. As they say, "If you can teach it, then you know it." That is why students were put into pairs or threes and given a topic in which to make a ShowMe. Then the links to the ShowMe presentations were added to their review sheets in the class Box (@BoxHQ) folder for everyone to be able to watch as much as they want while they are reviewing for the unit test.

Some examples:

http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=9scfPqi

http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=lulrNCq

Learning psychology with iPads

As part of our 1-to-1 iPad program, our high school students are learning with new "apps" as they and teachers explore new opportunities. High School Science Department Chair Hilary Staples gave us this update on learning psychology with iPads:

"After units on learning, memory and cognition, the AP Psychology class is now exploring neuroscience and all aspects of the brain and nervous system. In order to understand and engage with the concepts students have completed a diversity of assignments; from analyzing 'how many parts of your brain it takes to ride a bike to Redhill', to acting out the neurotransmitter exchanges in the synapse and how drugs interfere, and even eating celebratory brain (shaped) jello. As we work on reviewing this material the students have really enjoyed using the 3D Brain App on their iPads which allows them to rotate the model of the brain in multiple directions. Areas can be selected and information about each location is highlighted."