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Cochrane High students get three-dimensional

Biology students at Cochrane High School (CHS) had their science mojo in full gear April 10, presenting their findings from a medical disorder study to the public in 3D.
Sixteen-year-old Jake Ferris was one of several Cochrane High School students who were part of ‘The Hippocrates Project’ presentation at the school April 10.
Sixteen-year-old Jake Ferris was one of several Cochrane High School students who were part of ‘The Hippocrates Project’ presentation at the school April 10.

Biology students at Cochrane High School (CHS) had their science mojo in full gear April 10, presenting their findings from a medical disorder study to the public in 3D.

An inquiry-based assignment called ‘The Hippocrates Project,’ Grade 11 students were tasked with studying the aspects of a disorder from one of the physiological systems they had studied in class, as well as one that had some level of personal connectedness to one or more members of the group of students they were part of.

Carolyn McLeod, a science teacher at CHS, said the project spanned a two-month period and students, approximately 130, were provided some time in class to work on it.

Students were also taken on a fieldtrip to the University of Calgary’s (U of C) medical school and met Dr. Heather Jamniczky.

“Dr. Jamniczky has been an important liaison for us with the medical school,” said McLeod, “which has sparked a great deal of interest in this field for many of our students.”

Part of Jamniczky’s influence was her part in the development of the Lindsay Presenter 3D program, which was initiated by Dianne and Kelly Kimmett who wanted to give back to the university’s medical school. The Kimmetts’ daughter, Lindsay Leigh Kimmett, who was died in a car accident, had attended U of C’s medical school.

“The program allows students to see 3D anatomical features,” said McLeod, “as well as manipulate, move and organize various parts of the human body onto slides that can be saved and used later for notes.”

The Lindsay Presenter is a presentation tool that focuses on male and female anatomy three-dimensionally.

The project was the brainchild of CHS teacher Stephanie Bennett.

McLeod said Bennett started the idea two years ago and has been trying to perfect it since.

“(Bennett) has had several rounds of classes go through this project using the presenter program,” said McLeod, “and the projects get better and better every time.”

Currently, the program is only available on Apple computers, but McLeod hopes that by the fall it will be accessible as an online tool.

“This type of project is important because it gives the students a sense of relevancy to their everyday lives, lights up their scientific curiosity and creativity and allows them to learn and explore using a variety of different modalities,” said McLeod.

McLeod said that students who are part of projects like the Lindsay Presenter program tend to strive to higher levels to meet the challenge before them.

“For both (Bennett) and myself,” she said, “part of our goal with these projects is to see whether it also increases students’ understanding and competency of the material.”

Aside from being used to academic purposes, McLeod said the final presentations, like the one held April 10 in CHS lyceum, will be digitally documented and reviewed as an educational tool and shared with other teachers with Rocky View Schools.

“We are constantly amazed at the creativity and abilities that our students bring,” said McLeod. “We are extremely proud of them.”

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