At Collingwood School, we believe the passions of our students will help build a better world. That’s why we emphasizes authentic, real-world educational experiences and a personalized approach to learning for all students.

This fall, Anatomy & Physiology 12 students experienced a great example of this approach to learning through a problem-based inquiry into the human respiratory system. Taking on the role of a medical professional, students were presented with a patient exhibiting a variety of symptoms and tasked with providing a diagnosis and accompanying rationale. In this specific case, a 25-year-old male fell off his mountain bike, impacting the ground with his shoulder and chest. The patient was experiencing shortness of breath, chest pain and difficulty breathing.

Working in teams, students began the project by researching the functions of the organs that form the respiratory system. Working on whiteboards, students then organized, sorted and prioritized their research information. Eventually, students worked through their proposed diagnosis. The project culminated with a mock patient/practitioner conversation where students recorded an explanation of their diagnosis as if it was being shared with the actual patient.

“This style of learning is authentic to what an individual would actually experience working in the real world of health sciences,” said Morven science teacher Calindy Ramsden, “In addition to the curricular content, a student also develops their ability to work in teams, analyze new information and justify their point of view. These are skills that are relevant to every subject at school or pursuit in life.”

While medical school might not be the goal of every student, this innovative problem-based learning opportunity helped engage our science students, encouraged them to take greater ownership of their learning and honed a skill that can be applied in every day life.