Whittier College Supporting Innovation

The most recent recipient of the Whittier Innovates grant is a unique and interdepartmental project aimed at providing students with greater access to needed software.  

The grant funds will be used for the purchase of a year’s license of Anatomy.TV software from Primal Pictures with the goal of providing all faculty and students expansive, reliable, expert, visually stimulating, and interactive material without limits or additional charges.
 
Primal Pictures creates and publishes the world's most medically accurate and detailed 3D graphic rendering of human anatomy based on imaging data. Composed of interactive libraries, each module brings learning to life with 3D models, narrated animations, a comprehensive atlas of micro-anatomy, histology and dissection images, case studies, common clinical conditions and quizzes, surface anatomy movies, and more.
 
According to kinesiology professor Melanie Householder, the lead writer on the project proposal, “Having a premier human anatomy and physiology (A&P) software platform for everyone to have unlimited access to wherever their learning space may be at any given point in time is indeed new and innovative for Whittier College. In particular, we have an opportunity to intentionally provide our students with a level of access to advanced A&P resources that we have never offered before.”
 
Who will benefit from this software access:
 

1. Students – by using Primal Pictures, they get to understand spatial orientation of anatomy, physiology, and movement of the body in a way that resonates with today’s learners. It provides modern technology that is accessible anywhere, anytime, for today’s generation to learn and engage with in a way that makes sense for the learner. They have access to diagrams, videos, and images for use in STEM studies, art projects, athletic conditioning, and training, and more.

2. Faculty – can integrate software content into their course flow by saving, linking, or embedding images / movies / slides for use in their lectures, PPTs, quizzes, and other educational purposes. The embeddable viewer option takes traditional 2-dimensional views and turns them into 3D interactive experiences for the students to enhance learning and outcomes.
    
3. Staff – in particular, the health center and athletics. As telehealth options are explored, this software can aid in staff/student communications and education as needed. In athletics, strength and conditioning, athletic training, and the overall interdisciplinary value of expert education to our student-athletes could be reinforced. 

“This project is timely and has the potential to be impactful across campus, and it is just the type of COVID-19 innovation we recently put a call out for,” said Jessica Cobb ’05, member of the Whittier Innovates committee. “Students will not be returning to campus this fall, and this technology allows them a level of continued instruction and engagement that we need. It feels important right now.”
 
Householder will be working with Library Director David McCaslin to provide faculty training on the software, evaluate the use of the program, and create a plan for sustainability. Students, faculty, and staff interested in utilizing or learning more about Anatomy.TV should contact Householder directly.