Development of teaching materials for learning through experience: Utilization of cardiac model for learning of cardiovascular system

Abstract

We have developed teaching materials to be used in the study of “The Structure and Function of the Animal Body” by second grade students of junior high school. In this course, students learn about the anatomy of animals and humans but cannot directly observe it. The textbooks only cover the anatomy of the squid, and it is difficult for students to compare it to that of the human. Therefore, we developed a human heart model as teaching materials to enable students to learn through actual interaction. In class practice, multiple students can operate the model at the same time, allowing for exploratory learning through trial and error. By actually manipulating the heart model, the students were able to gain a concrete view of the structure of the heart and how it works. According to the questionnaire-based survey after the class, 97% of the students answered positively that the use of the heart model helped their learning, and the majority of the students felt that the model was effective. This study suggests that the use of the cardiac model allows students to learn in an exploratory manner, rather than by being given knowledge passively.