This tweet shows the 8 teachers on the placement as well as the lovely University of Glasgow staff who have made the placement possible, successful and very interesting.

A representative from the Biochemical Society who spoke to us on the first day is also in the photo – the society part funded our placement. I am really thankful to them all for this has been a wonderful experience.

After having a lovely lunch with the medical students class reps we headed to a genetics lecture for first year students.

The lecture hall was packed but I suppose that it is not surprising with the huge number of biology students.

I wonder if my S3, S4 & higher classes could follow the information on the slide??? I feel sure that they will know that it is showing a pedigree chart and will be able to identify what the shaded in boxes represent.

The university students then had to complete some genetics problems.

Do you think you could have a go???

The second activity today was to go back to the medical students and see how they had gotten on with there research into the heart.

It was very interesting to see how their diagram of the heart had changed……

I really like the way the flow of blood out of the ventricles has been represented by heart shaped arrows.  I wonder if I would be able to draw my heart diagrams like this – it’s really much neater than mine ever are!!!

They also talked about changes in pressure in the heart when the SL and AV valves open and close.

I really liked this approach to learning as everyone contributed to the learning of the group.  I really liked the way the students were able to support and help each other until they were all sure that everyone had achieved the learning intentions.

This morning I had an opportunity to visit a leading research lab run by the tutor who has coordinated my visit to the university.

She is overseeing research projects carried out by Masters and PhD students.

One of her areas of interest is the Epstein Barr Virus. I found out 80% or more of people are infected with this virus but that it doesn’t cause any problems unless a persons immunity is compromised.

We got to carry out PAGE. This is a technique that allows tiny proteins to be separated due to their size.

A masters student then showed us what happens next. When the PAGE is removed from the tank it gets blotted on to a membrane to stop the proteins moving and this allows the bands to be studied.

We then got to see a tissue culture sample

and look at the cells using a powerful microscope.

Coincedently, the head technician for the lab was the parent of a pupil I had taught here at KHS. He was able to tell me his daughter had obtained her biology degree at Glasgow University. She then began working as a NHS scientist while studying for her masters. Super news!!!

For more information about what goes on in Dr Wilsons lab click the link below.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/lifesciences/staff/joannawilson/joannawilson/#d.en.25768

The last activity of the day was a talk by a student learning development officer offering Mathematical support

Glasgow University aims to support all students. An area which had been identified as requiring support was the number of students dropping out of maths and engineering courses – this was because some students found the mathematical demand of these courses too difficult.

In 2008, a maths support student learning support development officer post was created. Students are offered one to one support to help them cope with the demands of their course.

This was the second medical lecture I attended of the day and was excellent just like the first one.

We learned about community diagnosis which was so interesting.

The lecturer highlighted the differences in health between well off and less well off areas in and around Glasgow.

It struck me that she said that the major adverse influence on health,  in her GP surgery, was alcohol misuse rather than hard drugs.

She had been interviewed by The Guardian newspaper. If you’re interested look up the article – I am going to look it up.

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/03/gps-battle-fatalism-in-neighbourhood-with-britains-worst-life-expectancy?client=safari

I really wish I had been able to record this lecture and show it to higher classes. It was so relevant to the higher course (but I think everyone would be amazed to see the images I saw today).

The lecturer, a cardiologist, showed us different ways of viewing the activity and health of the heart.

There was the relatively simple ECG traces followed by echocardiogram and videos showing blood flowing from the atria to ventricles.

We also got to see MRI’s used to identify heart problems. We saw problems with blood circulating around the ventricle instead of leaving the heart and issues with heart valves.

It was so interesting and so relevant. The lecturer said that if the photos and videos could have patient information removed he might be able to share them with us. Fingers crossed that it is possible as I know you’d find it very interesting!!!

Mr Forrest since we don’t have a Chemistree  at the moment can we please have a chemoostry cow???

The cow was designed to raise awareness of the importance of science.  It was first displayed in Edinburgh and then moved to the Glasgow Science Centre before returning to the Chemistry Department at the University of Glasgow.

Click the link below to find out more.

http://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/news/archives/2014/july/headline_347914_en.html

After the psychology lecture we headed over to the chemistry teaching labs in the Joseph Black building.

I had read the prelab preparation materials and was a little worried I wouldn’t be able to do it!!! We worked in pairs and thankfully my lab partner kept me on the correct path.

We carried out two exothermic reactions. The experiments we did are the same ones as first year chemistry students.

We were lucky though – we didn’t have to write the lab up for assessment. The labs that the university students do count towards their final grade.

Both very impressive experiments. I have videos but I’ll have to work out how to upload them so check back later.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to use “Moodle” – today I saw the huge benefit to students.  I don’t want to make myself seem too old, BUT when I was at lectures I spent the entire time scribbling down what the lecturer said.  There was no interaction between the lecturer and the students.  I left lectures with a sore hand and had to spend a couple of hours rewriting my notes.

What a difference today!!!  The lecturer asked the students questions to make sure they understood.  The students concentrated on the lecture taking only a few notes.  Many even asked questions during the lecture.  This must be because the lecture notes are available online through Moodle – time is spent listening and learning rather than note taking.  What a thoroughly enjoyable experience.