2008 Woodie Awards
Cadaver lab provides interactive learning experience
Chelsea Growden
Issue date: 12/7/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The acidic smell causes the South Gray High School students to cringe as they enter the cadaver lab. However, curiosity draws them in anyway.
"It's a tradition to see the cadaver lab," Ron Droste, Biology II instructor from South Gray High School, said. "We're covering anatomy and physiology in class. I hope it [the visit] helps. It's a lot better to see the actual thing than just look at posters."
The South Gray students' tour Nov. 29 is just one of the many groups who visit the lab. GCCC is one of the few colleges in Kansas that has a cadaver lab. Several community colleges have visited as well, including Goodland, Seward and Colby.
"We have probably 20 tours every year," Terry Lee, science instructor, said. "We're one of the only community colleges with a lab. Cloud County has one and possibly Butler. In Hays the cadaver lab is only open to graduate students."
Lee said the tour is often an honor for outstanding students.
"Most instructors use it as a reward for doing well in class," Lee said. "At Garden City High School they take only the top students. Some use it as an overall learning opportunity especially for classes that don't do dissections."
The high schools students had mixed emotions about entering the lab.
"I think it's pretty cool. I was nervous at first, but I learned a lot and hopefully it will help with our tests," Audrey Holderness, South Gray, said. "Last year one girl threw up. No one threw up this year so we're good."
Droste said the students were mainly anxious about how they would feel.
"We had a couple of nervous students, but they came in anyways," Droste said. "Everyone was worried about getting sick."
College students, along with Lee, discussed the cadavers with the high school students.
"We are in Human Dissection class, Mr. Lee kind of hand picks who he wants in the class, then each team picks what they want to learn," Teri Kelley, Garden City, said. "We learn to have fun in class, you kind of have to be able to joke."
The students who attended were impressed by the tour, and may consider taking classes such as this in the future.
"It was interesting, at first you're like, 'oh my gosh a dead person!' It will help me learn by actually seeing it," Yomaira Rosas, South Gray, said. "I'd like to take a class like this in college."
Lee, who wrote a proposal to get the lab in 1989, said he believes it is a great experience.
"It's a fabulous learning opportunity for not only our students but also for area students as well," Lee said.
"It's a tradition to see the cadaver lab," Ron Droste, Biology II instructor from South Gray High School, said. "We're covering anatomy and physiology in class. I hope it [the visit] helps. It's a lot better to see the actual thing than just look at posters."
The South Gray students' tour Nov. 29 is just one of the many groups who visit the lab. GCCC is one of the few colleges in Kansas that has a cadaver lab. Several community colleges have visited as well, including Goodland, Seward and Colby.
"We have probably 20 tours every year," Terry Lee, science instructor, said. "We're one of the only community colleges with a lab. Cloud County has one and possibly Butler. In Hays the cadaver lab is only open to graduate students."
Lee said the tour is often an honor for outstanding students.
"Most instructors use it as a reward for doing well in class," Lee said. "At Garden City High School they take only the top students. Some use it as an overall learning opportunity especially for classes that don't do dissections."
The high schools students had mixed emotions about entering the lab.
"I think it's pretty cool. I was nervous at first, but I learned a lot and hopefully it will help with our tests," Audrey Holderness, South Gray, said. "Last year one girl threw up. No one threw up this year so we're good."
Droste said the students were mainly anxious about how they would feel.
"We had a couple of nervous students, but they came in anyways," Droste said. "Everyone was worried about getting sick."
College students, along with Lee, discussed the cadavers with the high school students.
"We are in Human Dissection class, Mr. Lee kind of hand picks who he wants in the class, then each team picks what they want to learn," Teri Kelley, Garden City, said. "We learn to have fun in class, you kind of have to be able to joke."
The students who attended were impressed by the tour, and may consider taking classes such as this in the future.
"It was interesting, at first you're like, 'oh my gosh a dead person!' It will help me learn by actually seeing it," Yomaira Rosas, South Gray, said. "I'd like to take a class like this in college."
Lee, who wrote a proposal to get the lab in 1989, said he believes it is a great experience.
"It's a fabulous learning opportunity for not only our students but also for area students as well," Lee said.
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