Hands-on learning comes with a kit to build your very own human body
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Gaffney High School teacher Misty Greene shares a laugh Wednesday morning with South Carolina Hospital Association staff member Lara Hewitt. Upstate Carolina Medical Center CEO Joe Howell is shown unpacking the Anatomy in Clay classroom learning set that was received by Greene.

Gaffney High anatomy teacher Misty Greene received a surprise $3,600 gift Wednesday morning from the South Carolina Hospital Association.

Greene received a 28-student Anatomy in Clay classroom learning set. She is among teachers in seven high schools to receive mini-grants from the Hospital Association.

Students will use Maniken® human skeleton models to build muscles in clay while identifying and learning about different parts of the human body.

This method allows students to be involved in hands-on activities in anatomy and physiology classes. Students can study the different muscles in isolation from multiple views.

The Anatomy in Clay company held a 2-day workshop for science and health science teachers last October. Greene and other teachers participating in the training were given an opportunity to apply for mini-grants to purchase the classroom learning system.

"This will be very useful for our students. I will be able to use a hands-on approach with the clay models to help my students study each part of the human body," Greene said. "Over a year's time, students will build a complete model of a skeleton. I plan to let students use the models with our study of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems this year."

The South Carolina Hospital Association received a Career Cluster Partnership Grant this year through the state Legislature. This allowed the organization to provide school funding for teachers to purchase the Anatomy in Clay systems.

"This unique methodology of teaching anatomy and physiology standards has proven to be highly effective," said Nancy Allen, a State Department of Education associate in Health Science technology. "In comparison to traditional lecture teaching, the use of these clay models in hands-on learning activities has been used successfully with students."

Health Science is one of 16 careers being introduced into high schools as part of the state's Education and Economic Development Act. Students are required to choose a career major and base their high school studies around preparing for a career.

Upstate Carolina Medical Center CEO Joe Howell said the Anatomy in Clay will be a good teaching tool for helping students explore their interest in health care.

The clay models will help simplify the learning process for students in anatomy.

"One of the things we want is for students to become aware of the different health careers in the workforce while at the high school level," Howell said. "We are facing a shortage in every area of health care. We hope this will help expose students to health science courses at an earlier age."