Student Participation in Plastination as a Learning Exercise in a Science Degree Embryology Unit.

Students enrolled in their third year of a Bachelor of Science course at Curtin University used plastination techniques to preserve their dissected specimens as part of the practical component of the embryology module of the Human Structure and Development unit. Students attended an information session on the methodology of plastination. To assess age, foetal pig specimens were measured and weighed. Students then chose developmental features they wished to portray. Specimens were dissected by the students, dehydrated and plastinated. Progress was monitored by the students with respect to dehydration, shrinkage and colour retention. After 8 weeks the plastinated specimens were examined and their component parts identified. Specimens were photographed with a digital camera and the resulting images imported into a HyperCard stack representing the work of the class. Images were labeled and linked to information about their age and sectioning. The plastinated specimens were retained for future student use. Participation in the plastination gave the students responsibility for producing their specimens. Students learned specimen preparation combined with image digitisation and multimedia presentation of material. Student evaluation of the plastination component of this unit and examples of their work are presented.