Kinderegg learning program at ViteMeir in collaboration with teacher training (HVL)

ViteMeir is testing a new learning program in anatomy together with student teachers from Western Norway University of Applied Sciences (HVL). 40 pupils from Luster ungdomsskule will dissect the heart and lungs of pigs, and the student teachers will contribute to the implementation. The learning program is a collaboration with Luster municipality and the teacher education program at HVL.

-"This is a real science center children's egg," says Åse Neraas, head of communication at ViteMeir. 

Testing of learning programs that can become a permanent offering 

Anatomy with dissection has so far not been an offer from ViteMeir. Now, in collaboration with the university college and Luster municipality, they will test a new learning program that uses dissection of pigs to learn about anatomy and how the body works. First, the educators at ViteMeir will conduct a dissection session for student teachers. This gives them experience of the methodology and pedagogy used. Afterwards, the students themselves will contribute to the teaching of secondary school pupils. In this way, the students get to experience how teaching with the use of dissection works in practice. 

- "We've had dissection activities at ViteMeir together with the university college, but this is the first time we're doing it with students. This is a real science center children's egg, where the student teachers first get to carry out dissection together with the educators at ViteMeir, before they get to use what they have learned when they themselves will be involved in teaching students. In addition, we get to test whether the learning program is suitable as a permanent offer for students. This is simply a win-win-win," says Åse Neraas, Head of Communication at ViteMeir.

Nortura provides the pig organs that are used. They are also a good sparring partner when it comes to handling the organs. Through dissection of these organs, students develop their skills in scientific exploration and increase their interest in biology and anatomy. Students are trained to plan, make observations and evaluate the activity. They work in groups and must plan and communicate both with each other and through reporting. 

- Dissection is a great way to understand how our bodies work, especially when using animals such as pigs or sheep that are very similar to humans. In addition, it makes the science subject much more exciting and interesting," says Tonje Helene Været, lecturer at HVL and teacher at Luster ungdomsskule.

Practice-relevant teaching for the university college 

Exploratory teaching and project work are a fundamental part of the methodology for the development of the natural sciences. Dissection is an activity that can be carried out with preparatory and follow-up work. Here, students can help to develop their own research questions and gain practice in observation and analysis. It is important for student teachers to gain training in, and experience with, the use of practical activities in teaching that will reflect what they can achieve in school later on. Practice-relevant teaching is an important element for Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. National strategies point out that practical relevance is a challenge for most teacher education programs. The collaboration between HVL and ViteMeir makes it possible to create practice-relevant teaching in addition to the ordinary practice that students go through.  

Science center coordinator for HVL, Hege Stein, believes that ViteMeir is a toolbox for HVL, and a place where student teachers meet students in an arena full of practical learning activities.