How do the different systems in your body work together to keep you alive and functioning every day? In this interactive workshop, students explore the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems through hands-on models, real specimens, and collaborative activities. By learning one system deeply and teaching peers, then connecting them all in a whole-body scenario, students discover how the body operates as an integrated and dynamic system.
Faculty Developers: Dr. Bisi Velayudhan and Jess Marquardt, Biology
What students do:
Students work in groups to explore a major organ system using models and cadaver specimens. They then teach their peers in a jigsaw-style activity. They connect all systems through a whole-body scenario, with hands-on exploration and discussions supported by undergraduate mentors.
What students learn:
- Structure and function of four major organ systems
- How body systems interact to maintain overall health
- Systems thinking through whole-body connections
- Communication skills by teaching peers
- Teamwork and collaborative learning
- Basic anatomy using models and specimens
- Connections between nutrients, organs, and body function
Background Knowledge
- Basic understanding of the 4 major organ systems.
Information for teachers:
Connection to Research:
Professors Velayudhan and Marquardt are physiologists who research and teach about the human body system interactions. Both are deeply committed to STEM outreach and believe in fostering early curiosity in science. This workshop highlights their research and importance of understanding how physiology connects to everyday life and helps us appreciate the complexity of the human body.
