Wheaton's innovative ER course gains national attention
March 1, 2000
Wheaton biology professor Edmund Tong's introductory physiology course has been recognized in the national journal, Advances in Physiology Education, for its innovative approach to experiential learning. Dubbed the "ER course" by Wheaton students, Tong has successfully incorporated a service learning component into the already rigorous academic coursework.
While enrolled in the class, each physiology student spent time assisting and shadowing staff in Sturdy Memorial Hospital's emergency department. Students logged their observations, activities and reactions and wrote a paper on an injury or physiological condition witnessed at the hospital.
In addition to hands-on work in the emergency department, students studied patients from the NBC television show ER, to compare and contrast a real hospital experience with a fictional one. Known to contain detailed biomedical information, short video clips of the television show were incorporated into the laboratory component of the class.
Ross Franklin '02 said of his experience in the course, "I have plans to study medicine or exercise physiology after college, so observing in a hospital setting was a great addition to the class and lab time." Amy Gauvin '00 adds, "Many of us in the class plan to pursue graduate study in medicine or health science, so this experience has been valuable in solidifying our goals. I'm interested in cardiac care and rehabilitation, and I actually witnessed a woman having a heart attack. Watching the team at Sturdy stabilize her was incredibly powerful."
Statistical data based on student evaluations revealed that both the hospital and video components of the course added significantly to the overall comprehension of the complex material covered in the course. "While clinical experience is commonplace in graduate programs in health care, it is rare for undergraduate science majors to incorporate actual hospital experiences into their coursework," said Tong. "By observing procedures and hearing explanations from professional health care workers, students reinforce what they have learned in class and in lab."
Tong plans to offer the course regularly, establishing the first Wheaton science or math course with a service learning component.