SCHOOLS USE MOUSE TO STUDY FROGS Are virtual dissections better than real dissections?

DAY 1: FIRST RUN-THROUGH  Number the paragraphs in the article  Read the article one time on your own  As you read, “code” the article using the codes on the board  On the back of your article, write one word used in the article that you didn’t understand.

DAY 2: UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYZING  There are lots of ways to learn about anatomy. Sometimes we learn by reading, and sometimes we learn by doing. Even when we learn by doing, there are several different options. When it comes to dissections (learning by doing), which method of teaching anatomy do you think schools should adopt?  Virtual dissection only  Real animal dissection only  Both-allow students to make the decision  Be ready to explain your answer!

VIRTUAL EXAMPLES  Virtual dissection for iPad:   Froguts virtual dissection 

VOCABULARY  At your table, come up with YOUR OWN DEFINITION for the following words:  Awesome table: anatomy  Brilliant table: desensitize  Cool table: dissection  Dedicated table: jeopardize  Excellent table: virtual  Fantastic table: pick your own word!  Create your own sentence using your word to help us better understand its meaning through context

VOCABULARY  Anatomy: studying the structure of the body; “In my science class, we are learning about the anatomy of the frog by examining its different parts and how it is put together.”  Desensitize: to make someone less aware of or caring for their surroundings; “Some people think that violent video games desensitize children to real violence.”

VOCABULARY  Dissection: to cut something up in order to learn about it; “In my English class, we are learning about sentence dissection, when you break the sentence into parts and talk about each word in the sentence.”  Jeopardize: To put something or someone in danger; “Letting the dog stay outside in the rain would really jeopardize its health.”  Virtual: a computerized version of something real; “This virtual reality game makes me feel like I’m actually in space!”

LET’S READ THE ARTICLE!!

QUESTION 1:  What is this article mainly about?  A. The costs that the science department of a school can expect to pay in 2008  B. The differences of opinion on the various programs that teach virtual dissection  C. The differences of opinion on the use of virtual dissection to teach anatomy  D. The changes that have taken place in medical school courses since 1982

QUESTIONS 2:  Which is the closest synonym for the word jeopardize?  A. Reveal  B. Renew  C. Rivet  D. Risk

QUESTION 3:  Which is the closest synonym for the word scalpel?  A. Preference  B. Knowledge  C. Knife  D. Software

QUESTION 4:  In what way are virtual dissection and real animal dissection similar?  A. They both cost a school $300 a year if every student participates in anatomy class  B. They are both used by the SPCA to desensitize kids and show respect for animals  C. They have both been used to teach anatomy to high school and college students  D. They have both been developed by Digital Frog International for anatomy classes

QUESTION 5:  Which of these is most important to include in a summary of this article?  A. The name of the school in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where Christopher Perillo teaches  B. The reasons that some educators are against teaching anatomy using virtual dissection  C. The name of the company that developed the digital dissection software called V-Frog  D. The reasons that the price of a pig for dissection is so much higher than that of a frog

QUESTION 6:  In the fourth paragraph, the author presents details about Wheeling Park High School’s expenses in order to __________.  A. Prove that The Digital Frog is a much better program than Froguts or V-Frog  B. Detail how schools can save money using dissection programs rather than real animals  C. Prove that Patrick Durkin spends too much money for his science department courses  D. Detail some of the other digital dissection programs that are available to schools

QUESTION 7:  According to the article, what is one reason that SPCA members prefer that students make cuts on a video image of a frog?  A. Because the video image is not accurate and must be redone  B. Because virtual dissection software spares the lives of animals  C. Because virtual dissection desensitizes kids so they can do real animal dissections  D. Because the SPCA wants to increase the popularity of its virtual software programs

QUESTION 8:  Which information is not in the article?  A. The reason that animal rights groups are against real animal dissection  B. The reason that some educators are against anatomy classes using virtual dissection  C. The reason that frogs used for dissections are soaked in formaldehyde  D. The reason that some educators think virtual dissection increased students’ learning

SO WHICH IS IT?  Which method of teaching anatomy do you think schools should adopt?  Virtual dissection only  Real animal dissection only  Both-allow student to make the decision  Use information and arguments from the article to support your opinion.