Anatomy project combines technical, artistic skills
PARKERSBURG - An anatomy project at Parkersburg South High School illustrates the technical and artistic skills being taught in Wood County Schools STEAM programs.
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. STEAM classes combine multiple areas of instruction into creative and hands-on lessons designed to help students prepare for the 21st Century.
Teacher Todd Meckley said the assignment in the Human Anatomy and Physiology class was for students to draw and label various kinds of tissue, both to help them learn about the tissue types and terms but also to understand how they are built.
“Anatomy, in particular, lends itself to drawing/art because it is a very visual science,” he said. “Whether it is seeing the human body as a whole or as individual parts, students must be able to visualize the body from all dimensions and artistic angles and perspectives to understand the depth, components and how it all fits and functions together.”
Rylee Harner, a senior at Parkersburg South High, produced multiple illustrations worthy of a medical publication.
“The assignment was very in depth and we were able to take from it as much as we put into it,” Harner said. “I looked at the diagrams and explanations in our textbooks and went from there.”
Harner said her desire to excel led her to put substantial effort and time into the project.
“I knew that with my perfectionist mentality I should start on the assignment as soon as possible, so the day he assigned it I started and worked on it periodically for three weeks,” she said.
“I knew Rylee was going to take this assignment seriously but I did not expect the substantial time and effort she put into her book,” he said. “I probably should have, though.”
Meckley said Harner has been a dedicated and driven student who always looks to better her understanding of topics.
“The meticulous nature shown in her tissue book is exactly the type of detail-oriented work she is known for and what will make her a great health care professional someday,” he said.
Harner said after graduation she plans to attend West Virginia University where she will major in Exercise Physiology and minor in Psychology. Harner said he goal is to become either a physical therapist of psychiatrist.
Meckley said while Harner’s submission stood out, she was not the only student to produce visually and technically impressive work. Many produced detailed drawings, illustrated covers, table of contents and even fancy binding.
“When I first began assigning the tissue books, my expectations were simply for the students to draw and label the tissues to get a base understanding of what the tissue looks like from a microscopic perspective. However, as good students often do, many of them took the assignment to the next level,” he said. “I received many great submissions from this assignment because the students took it seriously.”
Harner said while she does not plan to pursue art professionaly, it will continue to be a hobby and help in her studies.
“With this assignment, I got something that I can carry with me throughout my future years of schooling.,” she said “Not only has this assignment been beneficial to my knowledge, but this class as a whole has taught me things that I will use the rest of my life considering I am going the medical route.
“A lesson I have learned from this would be to do everything with your full ability. Doing everything with your full abilities carries on to so many other things than a tissue book assignment. With the right mentality and work ethic, I believe you can go as far as you please.”
Pictures of Rylee Harner's tissue book can be viewed on the Wood County Schools Facbook page.