Robot Diaries Mini Project: A Model of Arm Muscles - Terry Richards

Description:

This is a model of the right arm bones showing the humerus, radius, ulna, and wrist.  Attached to the model are "muscles" involved in the functions of extension and flexion of the arm at the elbow and the flexion and extension of the wrist.  The muscles are made from strips of pantyhose or red craft foam.  "Tendons" made from rubber bands connect the muscles to the bones at the various attachment points (origin and insertion).  Further testing of the muscle materials will be done. 

 

Credit:

Terry Richards

The Ellis School

Robot Diaries Mini Project: Human Anatomy and Physiology Decoder - Terry Richards

The mini project is based on and inspired by the LISTEN Project in the CREATE Lab. The project would be designed to teach Human Anatomy and Physiology students how to pronounce common scientific or medical terms including ones most likely to be mispronounced.  This project will involve listing the common medical terms associated with each unit, determining the correct pronunciation (using a variety of resources), and finally creating a recording of each term.  This recording would be the voice of the Robot Diaries robot “Decoder” created by different groups of students.  The “Decoder” could possibly be a model of a female physician/scientist who is a specialist for the unit.  The project would be a collaborative such that the terms would be divided among groups of students and each would then listen to the others’ robot.

Classroom experience supports that the students would feel more comfortable when making their end-of-term presentations as their speech would be more accurate and professional when correct pronunciation is used.  A student’s presentation appears unrehearsed when she stumbles over the difficult-to-pronounce words.

Terry Richards

Five Ideas for Curriculum Candidates

 

1.       Human Anatomy and Physiology:  Concept of function of certain muscles. Specifically students will be able to describe the bones, the joints, and the flexor and extensor muscles that work together to cause movement of the elbow and wrist joints.  Using foam board and other craft materials students will create a model of arm bones and attach the specific muscles.  The mobility achieved by servos placed at the joints of the model will allow students to demonstrate the flexion and extension of the arm and the flexion and extension of the wrist.

2.       Human Anatomy and Physiology: Concept of function of certain muscles. Specifically students will be able to describe the bones, the joints, and flexor and extensor muscles that work together to cause movement of the knee and ankle joints.  Using foam board and other craft materials students will create a model of leg bones and attach the specific muscles.  The mobility achieved by servos placed at the joints of the model will allow students to demonstrate the flexion and extension of the leg and the flexion and extension of the ankle.

3.       Human Anatomy and Physiology: Concept of cell function. Students will create a detailed model of the cell that consists of the various organelles and cell membrane. Motors and servos will be placed on the model and used to demonstrate the process of endocytosis or the movement of particles or molecules into the cell across the cell membrane.  The particles would be directed toward certain organelles depending on the identity of the particle or molecule. 

4.       Chemistry: Concept of the movement of molecules in different phases (solid, liquid, gas).  Students will create three molecular models of a molecule of their choice (of several examples).  Students will use the motion achieved by a vibrating motor, servos, and a general motor to demonstrate the changes in motion of the molecule due to changes in temperature which cause changes in phase.    The student will narrate a description of the events that includes the various temperatures and phases. 

5.       Human Anatomy and Physiology:  Concept of a nerve cell conducting an impulse.  Students will create a model of a neuron.  An electrical signal received by the neuron would be indicated by an LED turning on.  The rapid transmission of the impulse, while usually portrayed as horizontal motion along the axis of the axon, would be demonstrated using a lighted  LED attached to the servo or motor.  Its motion indicating the motion of the signal.  The rapid nature of the signal transmission and the direction of the signal transmission would be modeled. 

 

 

Terry Richards