External constraints that led to physiology lab improvements

Area of Science:

• Physiology Education
• Undergraduate Laboratory Design

Background:

• Modified undergraduate physiology lab to address constraints including time, budget, space, and student preparedness.
• Shifted focus from experimental troubleshooting and data analysis to physiology problem-solving using real-world case studies.

Discussion:

• Incorporated observation of peers solving problems to mitigate imposter syndrome among students.
• Replaced traditional experiments with kinesthetic activities using mechanical models to generate reproducible data, minimizing biological variation.

Key Insights:

• Students developed improved graph interpretation skills by analyzing generated data rather than memorizing patterns.
• Recognized and adapted to constraints such as instructor comfort, funding, space, student skill gaps, safety, and time.

Outlook:

• Redesign facilitated goal reevaluation within the context of identified constraints.
• Enabled better alignment of lab objectives with practical limitations and student needs for improved learning outcomes.