Nearly a year since Chagrin Falls High School received an Anatomage Table through a generous donation from the Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation (CFEF), students and staff have become fully invested in using this cutting-edge device. The table has revolutionized the school’s anatomy and physiology curriculum and is providing students with a deeply engaging learning experience.
The initiative to secure the grant was led by Lisa Salyers, a distinguished educator who has devoted 30 years to Chagrin Falls Schools and was honored as Ohio Teacher of the Year in 2022. “The Anatomage Table has shown to be a very impactful and effective tool for teaching and learning,” said Salyers. “The table permits our students to interact with exceptional digital images in the classroom while being engaged in ways that have proven to be successful in high schools, colleges and universities around the country.” In addition, Salyers says, “The Anatomage Table allows users to visualize anatomy in a very accurate three-dimensional way resulting in an unparalleled experience that offers an extraordinary level of the most accurate anatomy.”
This past summer, Salyers attended the national Anatomage Conference in California, with partial funding from the Chagrin Falls PTO, to deepen her understanding of the Anatomage Table. She joined hundreds of high school teachers, career tech teachers, nursing educators, and medical professionals to learn ways to integrate the Anatomage Table in the classroom. She acquired a complimentary one-year digital subscription for her students, featuring a variety of virtual lessons and activities, as well as access to Table on Cloud, a spinoff of the Anatomage Table accessible on students' computers. Additionally, Anatomage has rolled out the latest upgrade that includes Anatomage’s real time physiology which permits students to interact with and observe living body functions as they happen in real time. Examples of the upgrades include a 12-Lead ECG, developmental anatomy, glucose homeostasis, renal physiology, and respiration to name a few. All these updates are appreciated and will significantly enhance the anatomy experience in the classroom.
On September 24, Salyers brought anatomy and physiology students to John Carroll University to explore its health sciences programs. They were welcomed by Dr. Melissa Cole, the Dean of the College of Health and a 1998 graduate of Chagrin Falls High School. Dr. Cole discussed a variety of qualities that make people good for the healthcare industry, while her colleagues, Dr. Dawn Boettcher and Dr. Tara Jenner-Donaldson, presented the undergraduate offerings and guided the students through simulations in the new labs. This trip further connected our students to careers in anatomy and strengthened their ties to the community.
With the generosity of the Chagrin Falls’ community, the Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation has been able to bring this innovative device to students. “The foundation is deeply grateful to each and every individual who contributed to this project,” said Board Chair Ashley Maier, Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation.
The Anatomage Table represents a bold step towards transforming education in the Chagrin Falls School District. This technology is impacting the way students learn about anatomy and physiology. This immersive learning experience not only helps inspire students who are interested in the pursuit of careers in science, medicine, and technology, but also fosters a greater appreciation for the complexity and beauty of life in a visual representation not previously possible via traditional methods.
“The Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation exists to support innovative educational experiences in the Chagrin Falls School District,” says Maier. “The funding of the Anatomage Table is a prime example of how the foundation can make a difference.”
“The Anatomy Table has been a great addition to the class,” said Ryan Curtiss, senior and co-president of the Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation Student Board. “It’s a great tool for Mrs. Salyers to help us understand where everything is in the body and how it all works. It can split the cadaver into different organ systems or regions based on what we’re learning. It also allows us to cut the cadaver to view the insides of organs, tissues, and bones. The website that comes with it is a great homework tool that makes learning much easier.”
“The Anatomy Table has been an amazing tool during our lessons,” said Sean McKee, senior and member of the Chagrin Falls Educational Student Board. “During class, we can use a real-life person's cadaver to deepen our understanding of what we are learning that day. The table's many features allow us to see the body from all angles and even in the separate organ systems. For example, we can peel each layer of the body away, all the way from the skin to the nervous system. One of my favorite features is having the ability to select any part of the body and learn what the part is called and how it functions. Overall, having the Anatomage Table allows us to explore the human body in an interactive and fun way.”
When asked what Salyers is most excited about with this Anatomage Table, she said, “What excites me most about having an Anatomage Table in the classroom is that students are able to study things that would otherwise be very difficult to visualize. It is very costly and extremely unlikely for a high school to have access to cadavers, so the table affords students the opportunity to be engaged in deeper learning with a more interactive exploration of the human body at their fingertips.”
The Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation is a volunteer board-led, 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and is one of the organizations supporting the Chagrin Falls School District’s annual grant program, the purpose of which is to provide support for projects not funded/not fully funded by the school’s budget. The mission of the foundation is to support innovative educational programs and experiences that enrich the opportunities available to students and faculty.
Visit chagrinfallseducationalfoundation.org/anatomage to learn more about this project.
Contact: Ashley Maier, Chair, Board of Trustees, Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation
440-465-7597 | chagrinedfoundation@gmail.com
