Brain Games: Advanced Anatomy Multi-Day Science Class

The Brain Games science class will meet twice a week for eight weeks. Each week, we will focus on related organ systems. At the end of this course series, learners will know scientific terminology for organs, where the organs are located, and what functions they perform in the body.

Learners will be empowered to take ownership of their learning experiences through readings, discussions, drawing and building visual models, and learning in gaming challenges.

Here is the course outline:
Week 1:
•	Day 1: Digestive System and Urogenital System: Using an online program called Froguts, learners will participate in a virtual dissection of a fetal pig’s digestive and urogenital system.
•	Day 2: Nervous System, Review, and Final Exam: Using an online program, learners will participate in a virtual dissection of a fetal pig’s nervous system. We will review organ systems. Learners will take the Froguts final exam.

Week 2
•	Day 1: Review the Musculoskeletal System: Learners will use online programs to review the axial and appendicular skeletons and the major muscle groups.
•	Day 2: Review the Endocrine System: Myokines - Skeletal Muscles as Endocrine Glands: Learners will study the endocrine system and examine and discuss new research showing that skeletal muscles can become endocrine organs.

Week 3:
•	Day 1: Genetics: What are chromosomes, genes, and alleles? Learners will learn the differences between chromosomes, genes, alleles, and genotypes and phenotypes. They will study the 23 pairs of chromosomes and learn about some universal traits each chromosome expresses.
•	Day 2: Genetic disorders and the parts of the body they affect. Learners will review chromosomal anomalies and examine the parts of the body affected by them.

Week 4:
•	Day 1: Mid-term review of organs and body cavities, including Play-Doh surgery. Learners review the 11 major organ systems. They will practice identifying the location of organs in body cavities. They will use medical terminology to perform surgery on clay models of the human body.
•	Day 2: Mid-term exam. Learners will take a mid-term exam using assessment tools and online resources.

Week 5: 
•	Day 1: Cow eye: Learners will view an online program to participate in dissecting and examining a cow’s eye. They will also take an exam following the dissection.
•	Day 2: Human eye: Students will study the human eye, learning the structures of the eye and the cranial nerves that innervate the eye. They will build a human eye using clay.

Week 6: 
•	Day 1: Day 1: Frog Dissection: Using an online program, learners will watch and participate in the dissection of a frog. They will compare the frog’s organ systems with human organ systems.
•	Day 2: Frog Dissection continued and final exam.

Week 7:
•	Day 1: Review: Learners will review the content from the last seven weeks in preparation for the final exam.
•	Day 2: Final exam: Learners will perform a series of tasks and use in-class and online resources to get a final grade for the course.


My classes welcome all learning styles: visual, auditory (hearing), reading/writing learner, and kinesthetic (hands-on). I use multiple strategies, such as slide presentations, open discussions, videos, and gamification, to convey information and engage the learner. I also use different educational and gaming platforms to enable learners to gain knowledge in a flexible, engaging learning environment.

All class times are approximate. I do not schedule back-to-back classes to allow students to complete the gamification activities at the end of the lesson. I recognize that some students have classes immediately after mine. I welcome students to stay if they desire, but students can always leave at the end of the designated class time.

The Brain Games course is available as multi-day classes and ongoing classes. If your learner wants a continuous experience with a community of learners every week, please find an ongoing class that fits your schedule.

Class recordings will be available for students who could not attend the live class.