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

ViteMeir is testing a new teaching program in anatomy together with teacher students from the University College of Western Norway (HVL). 40 students from Luster Junior High School will be able to dissect the heart and lung from a pig, and the teacher students will contribute to the implementation. The teaching program is a collaboration with Luster Municipality and the teacher education program at HVL.

-This is a real science center kinderegg, says the outreach manager at ViteMeir , Åse Neraas . 

Testing of learning programs that can become a permanent offering 

Anatomy with dissection has not been an offer from ViteMeir Now, in collaboration with the university college and Luster municipality, they will test out a new learning program that uses pig dissection to teach about anatomy and how the body works. First, the educators at ViteMeir Conduct a session on dissection for the student teachers. Here they gain experience with the methodology and pedagogy used. Afterwards, the students themselves will contribute to the teaching of the secondary school students. In this way, the students will experience how teaching using dissection works in practice. 

- We have had dissection activities on ViteMeir together with the college, but now we are doing it for the first time together with students. This is a real science center kinderegg, where the student teachers first get to carry out dissection together with the facilitators at ViteMeir , before they can use what they have learned when they themselves are going to 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 , communications manager 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, the students develop their abilities in scientific exploration and increase their interest in biology and anatomy. The students receive training in planning, making observations and evaluating 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 you use animals like pigs or sheep that are very similar to humans. It also makes science much more exciting and interesting," says Tonje Helene Været, a lecturer at HVL and a teacher at Luster Junior High School.

Practically relevant teaching for the college 

For the development of the science subject, exploratory teaching and project work are a fundamental part of the methodology. Dissection is an activity that can be carried out with preliminary work and post-study work. Here, students can help develop their own research questions and gain training in observation and analysis. For student teachers, it is important to gain training in, and experience with, the use of practical activities in teaching that will reflect what they can achieve in school later. Practically relevant teaching is an important element for the University College of Western Norway. 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 the students undergo.  

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.