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The
Benefits of Dissection
Dissection is just one of the approaches to teaching science
that creates a lasting impression in the mind. What do you
remember most about biology? Is it the dry textbook?
Your answer is most likely the hands-on activities that you did. Despite the squeamish reactions of some students, frog
dissection has many benefits. Amid the scissors, specimens, and
unforgettable aroma of the lab you will discover specific
lessons that extend beyond basic biology. The most obvious
value revolves around the tactile experience, but students also
learn respect for life, and proper dissection skills that will
be helpful in higher level lab classes.
Digital photography has evolved to the point that frog
dissection can be captured beautifully in science textbooks and
on virtual dissection websites. But pictures of frog dissection
cannot replace a real life experience. A hands-on lab allows a
student to understand the true positioning and feel for organs
that just can’t be expressed in the flat format of a book or
computer monitor.
In the hands of a good mentor, any specimen lab, whether it is a fetal pig dissection, or even an earthworm
dissection, can teach respect for life. Unnecessary damage to a
preserved specimen should never be allowed, even though the
animal has already been humanely euthanized. This is the
perfect time for young people to understand that there is much to learn
about the creatures around us and that they depend upon us for
proper care and protection. Older students can even be engaged
in a conversation about ethics in science.
Although it may seem unimportant at this stage in life, good
dissection skills can help a student in higher level science
classes. Learning the proper procedure for frog dissection
teaches following directions, observation skills, fine motor
skills, the interrelationship between organs and tissue, and
develops the ability to “feel” the body without seeing what is
lying underneath. Many of these skills will be used in college
level biology classes and some will be used in high school and
college level chemistry and physics as well. If your student
plans a career in any area of medicine, frog dissection or fetal
pig dissection should be a requirement in high school.
Laura Roberts teaches science at Circle Christian School as
well as her own budding scientists. For more dissection
information, please visit
www.zoomomscience.com.
Copyright 2006 Zoo Mom Science
(This article may be
copied in its entirety for use elsewhere. Author
information, website link, and copyright must be included.) |
