Episode 35 Intro | TAPP Radio Preview

Host Kevin Patton previews the content of the upcoming full episode, which focuses on the big ideas (essential concepts) of the A&P course.
 

There's more... a few content updates... plus some word dissections, a toast to Elaine Marieb, and a recommendation from The A&P Professor Book Club.
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Topics
.5 minute

• News about how smell relates to stress
• News about how oxytocin works
• Cholesterol testing for cardiac risk - are changes coming?
• Big ideas - the essential concepts of A&P

•  

Word Dissections
9.5 minutes

• Dissection
  • Section
• Concept
• Gradient
• Apolipoprotein B (ApoB)

Elaine Marieb
1.5 minute

• A toast to the late Elaine Marieb
• Elaine Marieb obituary my-ap.us/MariebObit

Book Club
3.5 minutes

• The Core Concepts of Physiology: A New Paradigm for Teaching Physiology
  • by Joel Michael , William Cliff, Jenny McFarland, Harold Modell, Ann Wright
• Book details:
  • Published on behalf of APS The American Physiological Society by Springer
  • APS members: my-ap.us/CoreConceptsBook
  • Bookstore: amzn.to/2GJd2Rb
• 15 core concepts of physiology
  • Explanations and applications of a concept-based approach to the physiology course
  • Concepts:
    • Evolution
    • Homeostasis
    • Causality
    • Energy
    • Structure/function
    • Cell theory
    • Levels of organization
    • Cell–cell communication
    • Cell membrane
    • Flow down gradients
    • Genes to proteins
    • Interdependence
    • Mass balance
    • Physics/chemistry
    • Scientific reasoning

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The First Ten Years of The A&P Professor!

On July 4, 2008, I published the first post on this blog—thereby launching The A&P Professor. 

I picked July 4—U.S. Independence Day—as my start date so that it would be easy for me to remember. It didn't work, though. It just yesterday occurred to me that I'd missed the tenth anniversary! Better a tiny bit late than never, eh?

I started The A&P Professor as a way to share what I'd learned—and am still learning—about the teaching of human anatomy & physiology. Having had a wonderful mentor in my early years of teaching of A&P (thank you, Sr. Virginia), and scores of colleagues sharing their A&P teaching wisdom in the Human Anatomy & Physiology Society (HAPS), I felt like I wanted to pass along the many treasures I'd collected over three decades.

And, well, I'm a writer. Meaning it's my nature to write things and share them. So I guess a blog was a natural fit for me, eh?

At first, I thought it might also be a way to share the "inside story" of my various textbooks, lab manuals, and other publications. But I soon realized that The A&P Professor works best when I don't do that. So I soon moved that aspect to other outlets and focus on the art and science of teaching A&P, period.

Soon came the website at theAPprofessor.org where I posted a lot of resources for teaching A&P. A year or so ago, the website got a big makeover and more modern design that works well on mobile devices. During that process, a lot of old stuff was tossed out and the website streamlined to be more of a professional development venue.

Along the way, I added a newsletter version of the blog, so that you can get an emailed copy of each new post as soon as it's posted—so you don't have to keep an eye on the blog.

The A&P Professor has long been registered as a trademark in the U.S., so we can all count on it being what it is and with the same person running it—and not something else entirely.

Along the way, I've added social media presence in Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and other channels. And a daily, curated roundup of science and teaching headlines at Nuzzel.

And, oh boy, have I heard from many of y'all over the years! It warms my heart when you stop me at a HAPS meeting, drop me an email note or tweet, or give me a call and tell me how much this or that thing I mentioned in my blog or another outlet has helped you. Or better, has got you thinking about a new direction to go in. You know, that feeling you get when a student or alum has told you that something you shared with them has truly helped them—or lit their own creative spark. There's not a feeling like it in the world, is there?

You're probably tired of hearing about (or just hearing) my podcast featuring content updates and teaching strategies for A&P. This latest (ad)venture is just the latest of the many ways I've been working to promote continuous improvement in the teaching of human anatomy and physiology. Mostly my own. As they say... when we teach, we learn. They're right!

I hope you'll continue your support of The A&P Professor for the next ten years.


For those who have not yet heard any of the new podcast series, try the first episode and move forward from there.

Testing as a Teaching Strategy | Students Learn From Tests | TAPP Radio 2

A new episode of The A&P Professor podcast (TAPP Radio) is here!

Testing is not just for assessment—tests can be a primary way to learn.
What's in the new blood pressure guidelines?
Going to the annual HAPS conference?

I encourage all anatomy and/or physiology instructors to attend the 2018 Annual Conference of the Human Anatomy and Physiology in Columbus OH. (0:50)

• HAPS 2018 Annual Conference

I summarize a few key points from the new 2017 guidelines on hypertension and their impact on how we talk about blood pressure in our A&P course. (3:45)

• Got High Blood Pressure Covered? The 2017 Hypertension Guidelines.
  • What we need to know for teaching A&P.
  • Link to the full report. And many more related links.
  • Free slide to use in your course.
  • Brief video interview of report authors, giving pithy highlights.

A previous topic, spaced retrieval practice (Episode 1), is the basis for a new discussion of Kevin's experience using online tests to provide students with regular and required spaced retrieval practice. (10:17)

• Testing as a Learning Tool
• Testing as Teaching
• Testing as a Learning Tool | Update
• Online Seminar: Testing as Teaching

More details at the episode page.
Transcript available at the script page.

If the hyperlinks above are not active, go to TAPPradio.org to find the episode page.

Check out the detailed notes and transcript of this episode!

The Life Science Teaching Resource Community

Have you heard that the American Physiological Society (APS) has expanded their Archive of Teaching Resources into The Life Science Teaching Resource Community?

This new online community—LifeSciTRC for short—offers thousands of FREE resources that you can use in your A&P course!

This transition marks a culmination of efforts of APS and several other scientific societies to advance the Archive of Teaching Resources beyond an online library into a community of practice for life science educators at the K-12, undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels.

The LifeSciTRC offers more than 6,000 free, scientifically-accurate teaching resources along with many new tools that allow educators to share their ideas and teaching expertise including:

• Community pages with news and recommended teaching resources
• Blogs focusing on classroom and science topics relevant to educators
• Forums for educator-led discussions
• Resource rating and commenting areas where educators can share their experiences of using resources
• Monthly newsletters highlighting community members, news, and resources

I can't speak highly enough of the quality and diversity of teaching resources available in the archive.  These are peer-reviewed submissions from all levels of teaching and learning.  Case studies, experiments, demonstrations, slide presentations—all kinds of great stuff!

The new system is really easy (and fun) to use.  It has a starred rating system, so you can see how others have rated each resource.  And you can earn badges by submitting and reviewing items.

In addition to the new name, the LifeSciTRC will feature three new scientific society partners:

• The Physiological Society
• Genetics Society of America
• American Society of Plant Biologists

These societies will join the current partners:

• APS
• Human Anatomy and Physiology Society
• Society for Developmental Biology
• American Association of Anatomists
• Massachusetts Society for Medical Research
• Northwest Association for Biomedical Research

Educators looking for new teaching ideas or interaction with other educators are invited to visit LifeSciTRC.org and discover what they have to offer.

For more information, contact our colleague at APS, Miranda Byse, PhD, Program Manager at mbyse@the-aps.org or 240-743-8045.  Be sure to tell her where you heard the message!

Some content in this post came from APS

Virginia Johnson Masters, sex research pioneer, dead at 88

On Wednesday of this week, just a few miles from my home in Missouri, Virginia Johnson Masters passed away at age 88.

Most of you are aware of the pioneering work in human sexual physiology she and her late ex-husband, William Masters, undertook at Washington University in St. Louis during the mid-20th century.  I briefly underscored that work in several of my textbooks:

"The study of human reproduction, and especially sexual function, has many cultural implications. So it is no wonder that American researchers William Masters and Virginia Johnson encountered a great deal of controversy during their decades of pioneering work in the field of human sex and reproduction. They were the first to study human sexual physiology in the laboratory. William Masters was a gynecologist (physician specializing in women's health) and Virginia Johnson was a psychologist. In 1966, their book Human Sexual Response clearly explained the physiology of sex for the first time. Besides making discoveries in the physiology of human sex and reproduction, they also developed therapies for treating sex-related conditions, and they trained therapists from around the world. In addition to the broad fields of biology, medicine, psychology, and the behavioral sciences, the pioneering work of Masters and Johnson paved the way for advances in such diverse and specialized areas of knowledge as comparative neuroscience and social dynamics. Today, there are many opportunities to apply knowledge of reproductive science in a variety of professions."

You may also recall my previous article Masters of Sex, in which I related some of my experiences with Johnson's late ex-husband and collaborator, Bill Masters.

With the Showtime network about to debut their new miniseries Masters of Sex, in which the character of Virginia Johnson plays a pivotal role, students will likely be bringing their curiosity about Masters and Johnson's work to their A&P courses.

Want to know more?

Virginia Johnson, Widely Published Collaborator in Sex Research, Dies at 88

• By MARGALIT FOX
• The New York Times Published: July 25, 2013
• Detailed obituary
• my-ap.us/13jaA4r

Masters of Sex

• by Kevin Patton
• The A&P Professor May 12, 2009
• Brief article about Masters, Johnson, the recent book about them (on which the Showtime series is based), and Masters's unforgettable presentation at the HAPS Conference in 1995
• my-ap.us/18HBhYx

Masters of Sex

• by Thomas Maier
• Basic Books April 13, 2009 432 p.
• An amazing book about Masters and Johnson's story.  HIGHLY recommended reading for all A&P teachers!
• amzn.to/12sLRQb

Related textbook content

• Anatomy & Physiology 8th ed.  Chapters 34 and 35 my-ap.us/QZTbK1
• Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology Chapters 24 and 25 my-ap.us/SCfNlj  
• The Human Body in Health and Disease 6th ed. Chapter 23 (see bio on p. 610-611) my-ap.us/X71LJO 
• Structure & Function of the Body 14th ed. Chapter 23 (see bio on p. 459) http://my-ap.us/10s50MH

Student success strategies at HAPS 2013

If you happen to be here in Las Vegas at the 2013 Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) Conference, then you may want to check out my workshop on Tuesday morning:

105

Helping A&P Students Succeed: 

Using Supplemental Courses and Workshops to Reinforce Concepts and Promote Learning Skills

LAS 221

Kevin Patton and Suzanne Hembrough

St. Charles Community College, Cottleville, MO 

Do your A&P students struggle with the whole process of learning? Do they seem ill prepared in their study skills and their knowledge of basic principles of biology? Explore case studies in which optional student workshops and short supplemental courses provide underprepared and unskilled students with knowledge and skills that make them better able to succeed in the A&P course and beyond. You will also receive free resources to help your own students succeed.

See you in Sarasota?

I plan on attending the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) Southeast Regional Conference on January 22, 2011, in the Sarasota FL area. 

Will I see you there?

These regional HAPS meetings are wonderful.  Not only do you get to meet and chat with folks doing what you do from all kinds of institutions, you'll hear loads of ideas on how to better help your students succeed in A&P.

And what better time of year to head off for coastal Florida, eh?

Want some details?

Go to the official meeting website my-ap.us/f7HO2K for more information on invited speakers, available workshops, travel info, etc.. . . and a handy online registration form.

And I'll be presenting a workshop there:

Helping A&P Students Succeed:
Using Supplemental Courses to
Reinforce Concepts and Promote Learning Skills

 

Do your A&P students struggle with the whole process of learning?
Do they seem ill prepared in their study skills and their knowledge of basic principles of biology?
Explore a case study in which short supplemental courses provide underprepared and unskilled students
with knowledge and skills that make them better able to succeed in the A&P course and beyond.
You will also receive free resources to help your own students succeed.

I hope I see you there!  I'd love to chat with you.

Too late for cadaver class!

I had hoped to tell you all about a great new course offered by HAPS Institute . . . Anatomy of the Abdomen and Thorax . . . but it filled up in less than half a day!

Lucky for us (and the dozen or so folks on the waitlist), this is the first in a series of several courses that center around a weekend workshop in a cadaver lab with expert dissectors.

The Anatomy of the Abdomen and Thorax course held in February in San Diego is just the first in a series of courses that will be held at various locations in North America in the coming months and years.

These courses carry three graduate credits from the University of Washington (Seattle) biology department. All HAPS-I courses are meant for folks who already teach anatomy and physiology (high-school through graduate levels) fill in their background in various topics within human biology . . . or simply to brush up on the lastest concepts.  Even if you already have a graduate degree and "don't need the credit" you'll find these courses to be both fun and useful.

All HAPS-I courses also involve emerging methods of active learning and thus showcase methods of teaching and learning that participants can adapt into their own courses.

Want to know more about HAPS-I and its courses? Click here for more information.

However, when new HAPS-I courses open up . . . ACT QUICKLY because they DO fill quickly!

It's almost too late!

A while back I mentioned all the benefits of participating in HAPS Institute (HAPS-I), the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society's professional continuing education program for A&P professors that offers short, flexible graduate biology courses.

We have four courses that begin soon . . . April 15. These courses involve both online work and sessions at the upcoming 2009 Annual HAPS Conference in Baltimore MD at the end of May.

Two of those courses still have some room in them . . .

Advances in Anatomy & Physiology 2009 (2 graduate credits)

• A great "first experience" in HAPS Institute
• Begins online April 15, 2009
  
• Learners engage the material presented in the conference Update Seminars more fully than just "walking in cold"
• Learners have a chance to discuss the seminar presentations together to find those gems that we can "take back to our classroom."
• Faculty: Ellen Arnestad and Kevin Patton

Advanced Respiratory Biology (2 graduate credits)

• A reprise of last year's wildly popular course
• Explore the "in and outs" of the respiratory system for a fully understanding
• Begins online April 15, 2009
  
• Features master teacher Mary Pat Wenderoth of University of Washington

The program also offers a completely online course . . . but there are only a couple of spots left!

Best Practices in Hybrid & Online Teaching of A&P (2 credits)

• No conference attendance required
• Begins online May 1, 2009
• Taught by online A&P experts Tom Lancraft and Janice Yoder Smith
• Great credential to have in your portfolio!
  

Want more information? Follow these links . . .

• HAPS home page
• HAPS Institute home page
• HAPS Annual Conference home page

• HAPS Institute registration page (use the links in the blue box to the far right)
  
• HAPS Conference registration page (use the links in the blue box to the far right)

Here's the outside of the HAPS-I brochure

(use the frame buttons to ZOOM, then scroll or print)

Here's the inside of the HAPS-I brochure

(use the frame buttons to ZOOM, then scroll or print)

[The video players and other features may not be visible in a feed or newsletter item. Go to The A&P Professor blog to view these features.]

HAPS 2009 in Baltimore

Heads up! The "early bird special" for the 2009 Annual Conference in Baltimore MD is about to expire. After January 31, you'll have to pay a premium to attend the event of the year for A&P professors.

Go to the home page for HAPS (Human Anatomy and Physiology Society) to find the link to register for this great conference. If you've never been to one of these, you have no idea how great they are. Really. I guarantee that no matter what type of A&P course you teach, you'll find this meeting to wildly exceed any expectations you have.


While you're there, you can amplify your experience by also participating in one of several short graduate biology courses offered by HAPS Institute (HAPS-I). For more information on the HAPS-I program and the "conference courses" offered in conjunction with the Baltimore meeting, go to the HAPS-I start page.

Fair warning! The HAPS-I courses were opened about a week ago, and they are already nearly half full! These are great courses, so they fill up fast. Don't dilly-dally, my friends!

HAPS Regional Conference Oct 4

Here's a great one-day conference specifically designed for A&P professors!

HAPS REGIONAL CONFERENCE:
Cancer, Genetics and Medicine

Howard Community College

Oct. 4, 2008

I've been to a lot of these regional conferences hosted by the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) and they are wonderful! It's a full day of general sessions and workshops, and often other highlights as well. This one seems to have a fine lineup of expert speakers and workshop presenters.

And the big bonus is the opportunity to chat with others who are doing the same thing I am . . . teaching A&P. My network always grows in meaningful ways at the HAPS conferences.

Click here for the brochure/application for this highly recommended event.

More histology images

Not long ago, I told you about the new wiki to collect and share histology images among A&P teachers.

Another great site with histology images that are FREE to use for noncommercial purposes is Blue Histology from the University of Western Australia.

You can find other links to FREE images to use in your PowerPoints, tests, lab quizzes, web pages, tutorials, etc. at my collection of free image links at The A&P Professor website.

If you have additional contributions as I build my collection of FREE images, please pass them along!

Need a tissue?

The official announcement came at the end of last week:

The new Human Anatomy & Physiology (HAPS) Histology Image Database is now available!

This is a "wiki" project that is comprised of an online community of A&P professors who contribute photographs of different human tissues to be used in the "public domain" for A&P education. That means you have permission to use them for PowerPoint presentations, test items, case studies, lab demonstrations and quizzes, wallpaper for your computer . . . whatever you can think of.

[WARNING: In reality, there may be some copyright-restricted images peppered throughout the database. However, these are to have clear copyright statements attached to them so that you can tell which have restrictions.]

Details about how to use the wiki are found at the histology page at the HAPS website.

The image database is located at hapshistology.wetpaint.com but you can't get in without an invitation.

I'm a member of the wiki, so I can invite you . . . just email me at info@theapprofessor.org and tell me

• if you are a HAPS member (or not a HAPS member)
• where you teach A&P and
• that you want to join the HAPS Histology wiki.

You don't have to be a member of HAPS to join the wiki, but you'll find that you'll want to join this organization after you start interacting with us. And you'll get a higher level of privileges in the wiki if you are a HAPS member, too!

To join HAPS go to the membership invitation page at the HAPS website.

And stay tuned, because I'll soon be sharing some FREE PowerPoint slides based on some of these images!

Cadaver scholarship

Remember that course in USING HUMAN CADAVERS TO TEACH A&P that I told you about?

Some of you were asking about funding and scholarships!

Yes! It's true . . . we now have scholarships available for HAPS Institute courses, thanks to Morton Publishing.

For information on the scholarships, go to http://www.hapsweb.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=236 and click the link to the Grants and Scholarship page (FYI, it's in the members-only section).

What better way to use it than for that Using Cadavers to Teach A&P course I told you about yesterday?

You can use this scholarship for other HAPS Institute courses instead.

We're still arranging the schedule of our other courses. Make sure that you subscribe to the The A&P Professor Newsletter to stay informed about the HAPS-I schedule! Or subscribe to the HAPS-I Update Google Group.

Cadavers, anyone?

People are DYING to get into this course!

Some of you already know that I'm the Director of HAPS Institute (HAPS-I), the professional continuing education program of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). This program offers graduate biology courses in flexible formats to A&P professors just like you!

I'll explain more about HAPS-I in later posts, but right now I have urgent news:

We're offering a repeat of one of our most popular courses SOON!

USING CADAVERS IN A&P
(3 credits, Univ of Washington)

This is for anyone who is using cadavers, wants to use cadavers, or is just curious about using cadavers in their undergraduate program. You'll go back with a lot of great photos of organs, etc, that you can use in your own courses plus plenty of great tips on how to implement cadaver use at your institution. I sat in on last spring's course and it was GREAT. I picked up a lot just by OSMOSIS. Think how much more you'll get by actually PARTICIPATING!

The course begins September 8 with online readings and discussions.

The workshop will be at the cadaver lab at Grand Rapids Community College (downtown Grand Rapids MI) on Sep 26-27-28. We'll have a session Friday evening in the hotel following an optional pay- your-own welcome dinner. Then all day Saturday on campus in various sessions in and out of the lab. Saturday optional pay-your-own dinner in Grand Rapids. Then a Sunday morning wrap-up session on campus until 11am.

Then you'll discuss things and work on your learning object through the end of November.

Accommodations at $89 per night are available at the nearby Days Inn Hotel (a few easy blocks from campus). Call (616) 235-7611 and ask for the HAPS Institute rate.

The enrollment form, syllabus, faculty, course details, and so on, are posted at
at http://www.hapsweb.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=204

THIS COURSE FILLED FAST last time and HAD A LONG WAIT LIST so if you are interested, you have to ENROLL NOW to ensure a spot. Last time there was crying and wailing when we had to shut the door . . . don't let that happen to you. Those on the waiting list from last year are mostly already in the course (we're almost half full already!).

HAPS

If you're a teacher of human anatomy and/or physiology and you're not a member of HAPS--the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society--then you should be!

HAPS is an organization dedicated solely to supporting folks like you and me. Folks from all levels of education from secondary, to community college, to four-year schools and universities, to medical education are welcomed into a collegial, supportive atmosphere.

The annual conference is an informal but power-packed week of update seminars by experts in most fields of human biology, workshops in which A&P professors share their tips, tricks, successes, and failures, and a lot of opportunities for networking with folks from all over North America.

Besides the annual conference and the occasional regional conference, there are resources such as a model curriculum, animal use resources, safety resources, cadaver use resources, standardized student testing, and so much more!

One of my favorite HAPS resources is the HAPS EDucator (HAPS ED), the official journal of the society. It's packed with organization news and updates, teaching tips, content updates, and more.

Another favorite is HAPS Institute . . . a rather biased opinion considering that I'm the Director of HAPS Institute (HAPS-I) and a member of the faculty. HAPS-I is the professional continuing education program of HAPS. The program offers several graduate biology courses each year in flexible formats geared to the academic life. Graduate biology credit from the University of Washington is granted in the courses, which focus on both content and teaching applications in areas often perceived as being hard to understand, hard to learn, and hard to teach. I'll be sharing more about HAPS-I in another message soon!